The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol, that took place from 7-18 December in Copenhagen can be marked as historicly important confererence. First of all, the Conference represents the result of 2 years negotiation process under the Convention, and in accordance with the priorities under the Bali Action Plan, adopted during the Conference held in 2007. in Bali, Indonesia.
The High level segment of the Conference gathered the majority of the most important world leaders. It seems that there is no UN Conference dedicated to environmental issues in the past that manage to attract that much interest of worldwide public, and so many expectations on unification of developed and developing parts of the world with the aim of insurance of common future for all the people and nations on global level.
Still, having in mind the results of the Conference, the most common conclusions are that they results are below expectations and that Conference didn't succeed in adoption of appropriate agreement.
These conclusions are result of the ambitious, but unreal expectations that the Conference should lead to adoption of legal binding document, which will defines concrete measures and actions for mitigation, adaptation, financing, technology transfer and capacity building and ensure that temperature increase should stay below 2°C by the end of the century, as it was recommended by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. All above mentioned ambitious expectations were the result of meetings and sessions held under UN, as well as bilateral meetings held between the key Parties in this process, like China and USA.
Despite all and even under the expectations, Conference in Copenhagen resulted in adoption of political agreement, so called "Copenhagen Accord" on key issues, such as provision of financing for developing countries and ensuring continuation of negotiation process till the adoption of a new legally binding agreement for the period after 2012.
It is important to mention, that during the Conference, some questions concerning the transparency and legitimacy of the final document submitted for approval to COP 15 and COP/MOP5, played out. Taking into account that decisions that have been prepared for adoption by COP 15 and COP/MOP5 and included so called "Copenhagen accord" weren't result of work of two "Ad Hoc" WG, small group of countries (Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Sudan), reject to adopt this document. At the same time, the rest of the Parties of Convention proposed COP15 to adopt "Copenhagen accord".
Taking into account, that decisions under Convention should be taken by consensus and and that consensus wasn't reached because the opposition of mentioned countries, "Copenhagen Accord" was adopted after consultation organized by Secretary General UN, not as binding decision, but as document that COP15 "takes note" . Parties of Conference Parties wishing to associate themselves with the Accord have an opportunity to do so by the end of January 2010. At the same time, "Copenhagen accord" invites associated Parties to submit their pledges for the period up to 2020, including emission reduction targets for developed countries and mitigation actions for developing countries.
The most common conclusion is that "Copenhagen accord" presents only the framework for the future action against the climate change, but it doesn't include concrete measures and activities, and long-term global goal for decreasing of GHG emissions. Its provisions for developed countries obligations are, most commonly remarked, as a step back in relation to the Kyoto protocol, because it hasn't include legally binding targets for GHG emissions in these countries. At the same time, "Copenhagen accord" doesn't include provisions regarding legally binding of GHG emissions in developing countries, but it is based on measurable, reporting and verification of actions implemented with aim of climate change mitigation.
It seems, that the biggest progress and importance of "Copenhagen accord" is made on financing, through which is shown the willingness of developed counties to provide 30 billion USA dollars for the period 2010-2012. for the implementation of mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries, i.e. the developed countries will, from different sources, provide 100 billion USA dollars per year for the period till 2020.
Also, in "Copenhagen accord", it is recommended the establishment of 4 new bodies from which 3 should provide financing, including the financing for development and transfer technologies.
Generally speaking, "Copenhagen accord", by its base, provides opportunity for further negotiations on international level, which will make possible adoption of new legally binding international agreement and provide appropriate actions for dealing with climate change, in developed and developing countries. It is expected that the consensus will be reached during the next Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol, which will be held in december 2010. in Mexico.
REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning
Omladinskih brigada 1, 11000 Belgrade
