The Cancun Conference Rebuilds Confidence

By staff reporter TANG SHUBIAO

The UN Climate Change conference in Cancun, Mexico, ended on December 11 (local time)2010 with the adoption of a balanced package of decisions, including outcomes of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and outcomes of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA).

The event, which opened on November 29, encompassed the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) and the Sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP6).

Headway was made on such issues as acknowledging the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, climate change adaptation, financial and technical support and capability building. Mexican President Felipe Calderon told those attending: "Cancun has been a success for all because it has taken a big step in convincing the international community of the value of multilateralism.”

Two Positive Signals

The Chinese delegation saw the conference as meaningful in two aspects. First, by defending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap and in honoring the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” Cancun paves the way for further negotiations in 2011 under the dual-track mechanism laid down by the Bali Roadmap. Second, talks have made progress to one degree or another, over issues of concern to the developing nations, including climate change adaptation, financial and technical assistance and capability building, and this sends an encouraging message to the international community.

For these reasons Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation, called the meeting "fundamentally successful."

Falling Short of China’s Hopes

The AWG-KP work report urges Annex I Parties to be more ambitious as regards the level of emission reduction to be achieved by them individually or jointly, and says, “Emissions trading and project-based mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol shall continue to be available to Annex I Parties as means to meet their quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives.”

The AWG-LCA work report agrees, “Parties should cooperate in achieving the peaking of global and national greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, recognizing that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing countries, and bearing in mind that social and economic development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries and that a low-carbon development strategy is indispensable to sustainable development.” It also articulates: “Scaled-up overall mitigation efforts that allow for the achievement of desired stabilization levels are necessary, with developed country Parties showing leadership by undertaking ambitious emission reductions and in providing technology, capacity building and financial resources to developing country Parties, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.”

The AWG-LCA report also decides to establish a Green Climate Fund as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the Convention to support projects, programs, policies and other activities in developing country Parties dealing with climate change.

The two documents were approved by delegates gathered in Cancun, representing 193 of the 194 countries that are party to the UNFCCC.

Comparing the Cancun decisions with China’s goals for the meeting that Xie Zhenhua revealed on December 8, one can see a gap remains. For instance, the AWG-LCA work report promises the AWG-LCA “shall aim to complete its work pursuant to decision 1/CMP.1 and have its results adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol as early as possible and in time to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods,” but no clear timetable is set. Still, according to Xie, China is content with the deal, understanding the necessity of compromise in international negotiations and agreeing that the conference decisions reflect a balance between opinions of all parties.

China’s Constructive Engagement

At the conclusion of the Cancun conference the Chinese delegation released a statement saying that China had been ardently and fully involved in talks on all topics, maintaining dialogue with both the developed nations and other developing countries in support of the organizer’s efforts to achieve transparency and broad participation. China had done its utmost to ensure the reaching of balanced decisions.

China had extensive communications and collaborations with the U.S., the other three BASIC nations, small island countries and African nations in the hope of achieving conference decisions that work in all parties’ interests. During his days in Cancun Xie Zhenhua had 12 meetings every day, and his deputies too were in constant motion in talks with other delegations, answering questions and dispelling misconceptions.

The conference named a pair of coordinators for all five aspects of COP16 work. China willingly approached them to give its views and stance on the most contentious issues. For instance, on the issue of shared vision, Xie Zhenhua had two meetings with the coordinators concerned - ministers from Grenada and Sweden. At the same time Xie had broad contact with NGOs. On one afternoon he met with and fielded questions from two dozen NGO representatives.

Xie stressed that the Chinese delegation to Cancun was working in complete transparency, arranging press conferences and, news releases every day, and taking interviews with Chinese and foreign media if time permitted.

Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International, praised China for its stirring positive attitude at the conference, but said people would be even more encouraged by the practical actions China is taking at home to curb carbon emissions. China’s efforts would make a significant contribution to the global response to climate change, and give China an edge in the future global race for low-carbon growth. He was pleased that the Chinese delegation was heeding and taking seriously the voice of civil society.

Words of Praise for the Host

Xie Zhenhua spoke highly of the conference organizer’s work on several occasions. In an interview on December 9 he expressed appreciation of the communication, coordination and consolidation work performed by the Mexican government, always adhering to the principles of transparency, openness, inclusiveness and consensus through consultation. The good job done indicated that the lessons of Copenhagen had been taken to heart.

At the end of the conference the Chinese delegation promptly released a letter of thanks to the Mexican government and the conference secretariat. It expressed appreciation of the dedication, painstaking effort, detailed arrangements and efficient services of the host country. These had provided an excellent platform for the conference to proceed in a transparent and compatible manner, with the full involvement of all participants, making possible substantial communications and negotiations and a peaceful atmosphere throughout, all of which had been conducive to the talks reaching agreement.

Durban Awaits

The failure at Cancun to advance the Bali Roadmap negotiations means there will be tough talks ahead in 2011. China hopes all parties will demonstrate high political willingness at the Durban conference, complete negotiations on the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, establish mechanisms for effective financial and technical support for developing nations to combat climate change and eventually push forward global cooperation on climate change. “Judging from the mood at Cancun, participants are conficent about the South Africa meeting,” remarked Xie Zhenhua.