South Centre

A South IGO

The South Centre (the Centre) is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries established by an Intergovernmental Agreement (Treaty) which came into force on 31 July 1995 with its headquarters in Geneva.

The South Centre has grown out of the work and experience of the South Commission and its follow-up mechanism, and from recognition of the need for enhanced South-South co-operation. The Report of the South Commission -- emphasized that the South is not well organized at the global level and has thus not been effective in mobilizing its considerable combined expertise and experience, nor its bargaining power.

The South Centre is therefore intended to meet the need for analysis of development problems and experience, as well as to provide intellectual and policy support required by developing countries for collective and individual action, particularly in the international arena.

This first issue of 2010 (dated 8 Feb 2010) focuses on the Copenhagen Climate Conference and After.

The Bulletin not only analyses what happened at Copenhagen but more importantly on the Way Forward.

Out of the messy conclusion of Copenhagen must emerge a resumption of the UNFCCC Climate Talks so that there can finally be a successful outcome in 2010.

Comments on the Copenhagen Accord

This Informal Note analyzes the Copenhagen Accord in terms of its legal nature and its substantive content, outlines important issues and concerns for the consideration of developing countries in the context of the UNFCCC negotiations and their development implications, and identifies some options that developing countries may consider in the context of their future action in relation to the Copenhagen Accord.

To read the paper, icon click here

Climate Policy Brief (No.2): Copenhagen and After

This Policy Brief looks at the process leading up to and the substantive provisions of the Copenhagen Accord. It identifies key issues in the Accord that would be important to consider for developing countries in light of their potential implications for the UNFCCC negotiations.

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Copenhagen: Key Issues for Developing Countries

South Centre Climate Policy Brief

By Martin Khor, Executive Director

This paper summarises the key issues that need to be resolved if the Copenhagen Climate Conference is to succeed. They include the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the global climate regime, the emission cuts of developed countries, the attempts to shift responsibiity to developing countries, finance and technology for developing countries, and the danger of climate trade protectionism.

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South Bulletin (South Centre, Issue 42, 30 November 2009) : Race to Save Kyoto Protocol — and Copenhagen

The Copenhagen climate conference will face many challenges and even a possible crisis. Will it deliver what the world expects?

This issue of South Bulletin published by South Centre gives you the background to one of the most important issues - the attempt by developing countries to "save the Kyoto Protocol."

The fate of Kyoto became probably the biggest issues in the last two UNFCCC sessions before Copenhagen - held at Bangkok (October) and Barcelona (November).

These articles present the highlights of the two sessions, focusing on the developing countries' positions on why the Kyoto Protocol must be saved from the attempts to discard it and replace it with an "inferior" agreement.