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Climate talks stuck on Kyoto deal Nairobi climate talks end in deal
(about 6 hours later)
There are signs that in the final phase of this year's UN climate talks some of the outstanding issues are being resolved in private negotiations. The UN climate talks in Nairobi have ended with agreement reached on all outstanding matters.
However, on the most fundamental issue, a review of the Kyoto Protocol, no agreement has yet been reached. The most difficult issue, a review of the Kyoto Protocol, was settled to the advantage of developing countries.
There is no deal on another round of mandatory cuts in emissions to follow the Kyoto Protocol, and no firm timetable for negotiating cuts.
Environment and development groups say the measures presented here do not match the scale of the problem.Environment and development groups say the measures presented here do not match the scale of the problem.
There will be no deal on mandatory cuts in emissions and a firm timetable for negotiating cuts looks unlikely. "It's very clear from the Stern Review, from the latest scientific information, from the impacts we're already seeing in places like Kenya, that we need very rapid cuts in carbon emissions, and we need the negotiations to start next year and finish at the latest in 2008," said Andrew Pendleton, climate analyst with the charity Christian Aid.
'Bold leadership' The agreement here sets a tentative date for beginning negotiations, and no timeframe for concluding them.
Andrew Pendleton, climate analyst with the charity Christian Aid, said: "It's very clear from... the latest scientific information, from the impacts we're already seeing in places like Kenya, that we need very rapid cuts in carbon emissions, and we need the negotiations to start next year and finish at the latest in 2008." href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm', '1163694372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Views of delegates at the UN climate conference in Nairobi href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm', '1163694372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures "From Christian Aid's point of view that's simply not good enough, and we need some heads to be knocked together by somebody, but I don't know who that is," Mr Pendleton lamented.
Some climate change issues remain unresolved after two weeks of talks The theme was echoed by other campaign groups.
The draft agreement here in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, speaks of discussions, not formal negotiations, beginning in the next few months, but with no timetable for starting and finishing the negotiations themselves. "Ministers are simply not reflecting the urgency which is being felt in the real world," said Catherine Pearce, international climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth UK. "We are still not seeing the bold leadership which is needed here."
"From Christian Aid's point of view that's simply not good enough, and we need some heads to be knocked together by somebody but I don't know who that is," Mr Pendleton said.
The big fear among activists is that unless talks start soon, there will not be enough time to get a new deal on cuts agreed by the time the existing Kyoto Protocol targets expire in 2012.
"Ministers are simply not reflecting the urgency which is being felt in the real world," said Catherine Pearce, international climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth UK.
"We are still not seeing the bold leadership which is needed here."
Outstanding reviewOutstanding review
The most important of the issues outstanding as the talks entered their final phase concerned the review of Kyoto. The most important of the issues outstanding as the talks entered their final phase concerned the review of the Kyoto Protocol.
Farmers in southern Australia are suffering in an exceptional droughtThe protocol states that it should be reviewed at this stage, with many of its measures open to discussion. The protocol states that it should be reviewed at this stage, with many of its measures open to discussion.
A number of developing countries view this with suspicion, believing that it may open the door to demands that they consider binding cuts in emissions, possibly impacting economic development. The world community can make progress when it puts its mind to it, but my goodness we really need to up the momentum David MillibandUK Environment Secretary A number of developing countries viewed this with suspicion, believing that it might open the door to demands that they consider binding cuts in emissions, possibly impacting economic development.
They are asking for a minimal review; whereas the European Union, with the support of a number of other nations, wants a root and branch examination of emission targets and all the other components of the protocol such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a device for bringing money from Western countries to developing nations for clean development projects. They asked for, and eventually got, a minimal review.
Another issue of disagreement remaining is a Russian proposal to allow countries to join the Kyoto Protocol, or elements of it, on a voluntary basis. The European Union, with the support of a number of other nations, wanted a root and branch examination of emission targets and all the other components of the protocol.
One area of contention outstanding at the beginning of the day has apparently been resolved, with the decision that projects involving carbon capture and storage (CCS) should not at this stage be eligible for CDM funds. CCS is viewed by many as an immature technology. The plan now is for such a review to take place in 2008.
State power Some climate change issues remain unresolved after two weeks of talksTo the concern of activists, the conference approved a proposal from Belarus that it be allowed to join the Kyoto Protocol in a way that could see it able to sell surplus emissions.
On the sidelines, a group of states, provinces and local authorities has launched a voluntary collaboration called the States Climate Alliance aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its emissions declined sharply after the reference date of 1990 with the decline of Soviet bloc industry, and environment groups say Belarus will be able to make money from this with no resultant drop in global greenhouse gas emissions.
The group, co-ordinated by The Climate Group, a UK organisation, includes such diverse regions as Scotland, California, Quebec and South Australia. A proposal to allow Clean Development Mechanism funds to be used for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects was deferred because the technology is not yet mature.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm', '1163694372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Views of delegates at the UN climate conference in Nairobi href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/sci_nat_un_climate_change_conference/html/1.stm', '1163694372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures "Often the governments of states have a lot of power to regulate emissions, but they're not included in national negotiations," said Climate Group CEO Steve Howard. African benefit
"They may regulate electricity supply or energy efficiency standards. UK Environment Secretary David Milliband was upbeat about the conclusions, citing decisions to allocate more resources to Africa for clean technology and for adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
"Some of them, like California, have enacted strict legislation on cutting emissions, while others such as South Australia, with its exceptional drought, are experiencing severe weather conditions which is making them very aware of climate impacts." Farmers in southern Australia are suffering in an exceptional droughtHowever, he acknowledged there was a large gap between the emissions cuts which science suggests are necessary, and the level of political commitment to making those cuts.
Fifteen states are involved in the first phase, but Mr Howard anticipates membership growing quickly. Carbon trading and exchanging best practice are two of the project's aims. "I come away from this conference with two senses: one, the world community can make progress when it puts its mind to it, but two, my goodness we really need to up the momentum, we need to increase the acceleration," he told BBC News.
"And for that, you don't just need environment ministers - you need prime ministers, finance ministers, and foreign secretaries to put themselves behind this global drive."
Mr Milliband acknowledged that even alongside the welter of other international initiatives on climate, the UN process is especially important because it is the only one which can demand binding cuts in emissions.
The next round of talks will be in Bali next December.