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Some progress

  • 14/12/2006

The principles and modalities of a five-year programme to generate information on climate change and its impacts was the first issue to be resolved and adopted. It was hailed as a major step forward for developing nations. Under this programme, steps will be taken to assist all parties, in particular developing countries, to improve their understanding of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and to make informed decisions on practical adaptation actions and measures.



Monkeys and peanuts: The saga of developing countries fighting among themselves continued, with the operational entity of the adaptation fund


"This is merely a starting point.What the g-77 would have preferred was to have a full five-year work programme. But right now work for two years has been decided. A full scope of activities for five years would have made the programme more effective. The us, supported by Canada, emphasised limiting the discussion to initial activities. We wanted a very action-oriented programme. The process of setting up the principles and modalities was difficult since the needs of different countries vary. Some of the least developed countries (ldcs) are still not happy with the outcome of this,' said Judy Beaumount, chief director, environment and sustainable development cooperation, environmental affairs and tourism department, South Africa, who was heading the g-77 group for negotiations on this programme.

Adaptation fund
The second, and more important, issue that was resolved was about the principles and modalities of an adaptation fund, funded by a two per cent levy on the cdm transactions. After much wrangling, it was decided that the fund, which has only us $3 million at present, will be managed by cop/mop. Developed and developing countries originally only agreed to the principles and modalities of the fund, and not its management. Developed countries like Norway, Switzerland and Japan wanted the global environment facility (gef) to manage the fund, but developing countries did not want that, given gef's past record, and wanted its management by an executive body, with equitable regional representation. "Where the adaptation fund is concerned, I think we should be very careful about taking a decision on the operational entity. It is a very important issue, and I would rather have the decision delayed than taking one in haste that the developing world may regret later on,' said Ghosh. "There was friction among the developing countries even where the fund is concerned. China is not against the gef being the operational entity. Why should it be, as it gets 50 per cent of the gef funding,' said Mohamad Reazuddin, chair of the ldc group. Finally, the views of the developing countries prevailed.

But this victory will have to be followed by strong domestic policies if adaptation is to become a meaningful frame of action. This will mean much greater emphasis on generating research and data on climate change. That will mean, in the first place, acknowledging the reality of climate change, its deleterious effects and the enormity of the problem. Unfortunately, if the Indian case is any indication, there does not seem to be any movement in that direction. The Indian establishment has buried its head in the sand and far from proceeding with coordinated research as a basis of policy formulation, tends to ignore the evidence that is being amassed elsewhere.

Next (Impacts of climate change - Unknown future)>>

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