Countries Writing New Climate Action Pact

Countries Writing New Climate Action Pact

January 2008  - Governments meeting 
in Bali today agreed to launch negotiations towards a strengthened 
international climate change pact. The new treaty will be a successor to 
the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012. 

The decision by 187 countries includes a clear agenda for the key issues 
to be negotiated by 2009. The agenda will cover action for adapting to the 
negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods; ways 
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; ways to widely deploy climate-friendly 
technologies; and financing of both adaptation and mitigation measures. 
Concluding negotiations in 2009 will ensure that the new deal can enter 
into force by 2013, following the expiration of the first phase of the 
Kyoto Protocol. 
"This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international 
community to successfully fight climate change," said Indonesian 
Environment Minister and President of the conference, Rachmat Witoelar. 
"Parties have recognised the urgency of action on climate change and have 
now provided the political response to what scientists have been telling 
us is needed." 
Delegates applauded the consensus, and also the Secretariat of the UN 
Framework Convention on Climate Change in appreciation of their hard work 
and efficiency in guiding the negotiations. 
Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change, said, "We now have a roadmap, we have an 
agenda and we have a deadline." 
"But we also have a huge task ahead of us and time to reach agreement is 
extremely short, so we need to move quickly," he said. 
 
The U.S. delegation at Bali agreed with the consensus early this morning 
after previously expressing reservations. The United States blocked the 
inclusion of firm emissions targets by a date certain that were endorsed 
by the European Union countries and others. 
In discussions during the high-level segment of the meeting, which has 
been underway since Wednesday, Canada's Environment Minister John Baird 
said his government is determined to honor existing commitments. Canada 
ratified the Kyoto Protocol but under the current Conservative government 
has backed away from its commitment, saying it would be impossible to 
achieve. 
Baird supported a long-term global target to cut emissions in half by 
2050. He urged engagement of "all major emitting countries, with 
appropriate levels of ambition and timetables in a new binding agreement." 

Not waiting for the national governments to reach agreement world mayors 
and local governments have committed themselves to leadership and action 
with the launch of a global agreement to address the issue of global 
warming. 
The World Mayors and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement, 
introduced Wednesday by Mayor Michael Bloomber of New York, sets forth six 
commitments that not only address the challenge of climate change, but 
also accept the opportunities it presents. 
"Today, two powerful and historic forces converge - the urbanization of 
the world's people and our alteration of the world's climate," Mayor 
Bloomberg told a conference session Wednesday. "Both trends are 
accelerating." 
"Fifty years ago, fewer than 100 of the world's cities had populations of 
one million or more people," he said. "Within 10 years, nearly 500 cities 
will. 
"The evidence of escalating climate change is indisputable and the world's 
cities, which account for 80 percent of humanity's production of 
greenhouse gases, recognize that inaction is not an option," the New York 
mayor said. 

"Let's focus on what the nations that you represent, and the cities that I 
speak for, can do, rather than what they can't," said Mayor Bloomberg. "In 
that spirit, I ask you to take these two steps in finalizing the Bali 
Roadmap." 
"First, set out, honestly and fully, the duties that we all share. If we 
are to stabilize the world's climate, science says we must cut carbon 
emissions by some 60 percent to 80 percent worldwide by mid-century," he 
said. 
Local governments Wednesday launched the World Mayors and Local Government 
Climate Protection Agreement, committing themselves to these targets. 
"And second, I ask you to make the cities and local governments of the 
world an integral part of this process," Bloomberg said. 
"Mayors and local governments, if genuinely empowered and resourced, can 
lead emissions reductions to ensure high global targets are met," 
explained Deputy Mayor of London Nicky Gavron. " Cities and urban areas 
are responsible for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If 
governments don’t give us the means to deliver deep cuts we cannot avoid 
catastrophic impacts from climate change." 
The World Mayors and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement is 
being launched by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the World 
Mayors Council on Climate Change, United Cities and Local Governments, and 
the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group. Collectively, these 
organizations represent a majority of global cities and local governments. 

"My hope is that when this conference re-convenes in 2008, local officials 
from every land will be able to speak for themselves, not as outsiders, 
but as full members of their national delegations, said Mayor Bloomberg. 
"That will set the stage for their playing a productive role in 
negotiating the successor to the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen in 2009." 
The World Mayors and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement is 
online at: http://www.globalclimateagreement.org. 

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