Climate negotiations in Barcelona: some progress but no political breakthrough
Bern, 06.11.2009 - At the end of the round of negotiations in Barcelona in view of the Copenhagen summit, progress has been made on issues relating to adaptation to climate change. However, the revision of negotiation texts failed to bring a decisive breakthrough on the subject of emissions cuts and how they will be financed. This is the conclusion reached by the Swiss delegation, led by Ambassador Thomas Kolly, head of the International Affairs division of the Federal Office for the Environment.
Thirty days before the Copenhagen summit is due to begin, the mood is one of restrained optimism as to the possibility of an agreement on the climate regime after 2012. In Barcelona, only slow progress has been made on the most politically sensitive issues, such as commitments from all countries to reduce emissions or how to finance the fight against climate change. In Copenhagen, ministers and heads of state will have to show their mettle if a comprehensive agreement is to be reached.
The nearly 2000 negotiators who gathered in Barcelona nevertheless made progress on other less sensitive issues, such as adaptation to the negative effects of climate change. All the options concerning emissions due to deforestation and agriculture have also been defined.
The lack of a national legislation on climate change in the United States and the fact that the bill currently before the US Senate is unlikely to be adopted before Copenhagen is putting a serious strain on the negotiations. It is also expected that a lot of work will remain to be done after an agreement is reached in Copenhagen to implement the new international climate regime.
Address for enquiries
Mr Thomas Kolly, head of the International Affairs Division, FOEN, +41 (79) 828 48 45
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
