El 18º período de sesiones de la Conferencia de las Partes (CP18) de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) celebrado en Doha (Qatar) concluyó con objetivos poco ambiciosos en lo que respecta a la reducción de las emisiones y al financiamiento.

Las divergencias conceptuales entre estos dos grupos de países fueron muy evidentes durante las dos semanas que duraron las negociaciones de Doha. En las horas finales de la Conferencia, los delegados debieron disimular estos desencuentros para evitar que la Conferencia fuera un sonado fracaso.

Informe sobre políticas climáticas número 9, febrero de 2013

La conferencia anual de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático que se llevó a cabo a finales de del año pasado en Doha concluyó el 8 de diciembre de 2012 con bajos niveles de compromiso por parte de los países desarrollados en dos áreas fundamentales: la reducción de emisiones y la provisión de financiamiento a los países en desarrollo.

Climate Policy Brief, November 2012

Developing countries have long been at the frontlines of climate change and bearing the brunt of its impacts on sustainable development prospects and even, in many cases, physical survival and territorial integrity. These underscore the need for global cooperation and action on climate change.

Informe sobre climáticas Nº 7, septiembre de 2012

En enero de 2012 la aviación fue incluida en el régimen de comercio de derechos de emisión (ETS) de la Unión Europea (UE). El ETS de la aviación obliga a los operadores aéreos a comprar un derecho de emisión por tonelada de dióxido de carbono (CO2) emitida en los vuelos que entren o salgan de la UE, y de los vuelos intracomunitarios. Esta medida se aplica a los vuelos de pasajeros, de carga y a los vuelos no comerciales, independientemente del país donde tenga sede el operador aéreo.

SouthViews

No.23,              24 July 2012 SOUTHVIEWS is a service of the South Centre to provide opinions and analysis of topical issues from a South perspective.  Visit the South Centre’s website: www.southcentre.org   Equity is the Gateway to Environment Ambition: South Centre statement in UNFCCC Below is the statement by Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, which was presented at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) Workshop on Equity in Bonn on 16 May 2012. ……………………………………………………………… In the quest for an international climate agreement on actions to address the climate change crisis, three aspects have to be the basis simultaneously: the environmental imperative, the developmental imperative, and the equity imperative. This EDE formula requires that the different pieces of the climate negotiations be seen and addressed as a whole, in a holistic way. In particular, setting the global goal for emission reduction has to take account of the environmental imperative, and also deal with the emission reduction of Annex I and non-Annex I Parties. Equity is the element and principle that cements the link between environment and development. Indeed, equity is the gateway to environmental ambition.     For example, fixing of a temperature target and of a global emissions reduction goal must be done within a paradigm or framework for the equitable sharing of the atmospheric space and the development space.   The sharing of the mitigation efforts, and the support (finance and technology transfer) that must accompany this sharing is a most critical piece of the jigsaw puzzle. The UN Climate Convention recognises the equity principle; that developed countries take the lead in emission reduction, and that developing countries have development imperatives, and their ability to undertake climate actions depend on the extent of support they receive from the developed countries. Annex I countries will also meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing developing countries' mitigation measures, as well as providing financing on adaptation and technology.  There are competing claims on a national budget or a family budget. The trade-offs and dilemmas are more acute for the poor. A poor family would put greater priority on feeding the children and on health care, and also on adaptation action such as preventing floods and rain from occupying the house, ahead of spending on mitigation. Thus, financial assistance is required if changing to more environmentally sound cook stoves is to be done by the family. So too regarding a typical budget making exercise by developing countries. Thus the provision of finance to support mitigation in developing countries, which is oprerationalising the equity principle, would be a necessary piece of effective global migitation action. Recognising the gateway role of equity to higher environmental ambition is not a rhetorical but a logical and realistic way of getting to a successful mitigation framework.    Between 1850 and 2009, about 1,280 Gigatons of CO2 were emitted, thus adding to the stock of CO2 in the atmosphere. To achieve a 67% probability of limiting temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius, CO2 emissions in 2010-2050 must be kept to below 750 Gt; a 75% probability requires a 600 Gt budget. Of the cumulative global emissions Annex I countries accounted for 72% of the total compared to their share of population of about 25%. Developing countries accounted 28% of the total. The over-utilisation by Annex I was 568 Gton, the same as the under-utilisation by developing countries. In terms of annual flow, Annex I is still exceeding its fair share.   In sharing the remaining carbon space in 2010-2050 two concepts are needed: (1) The allocation of carbon space as according to rights and responsibilities; (2) The actual carbon budget (and related physical emissions reduction schedule) that countries eventually put forward as what they can physically undertake. There could be a difference between the allocation of responsibilities and rights, and the actual emissions reduction or related budgets. Therefore: Countries that cannot meet their allocated budget or emission cut can compensate for this unmet part of their obligation and countries that do not make full use of these rights, can obtain the funds for their actions. The equity approach has implications for the various topics under LCA. In shared vision, the setting of a global goal for emission reduction should be accompanied by a clarification of the roles of developed and developing countries. For example, a proposal of a global goal of 50% and an Annex I goal of 80% proposal raises some issues. Firstly, the 50% global cut is environmentally not ambitious enough, as it would correspond to a carbon budget above what is required. Secondly, the implied distribution of the carbon budget gives Annex I countries a budget share of 30-35 per cent, compared to their 16% share of world population in this period. Thirdly, acceptance of this proposal means accepting not only an unfair distribution of the 2010-50 carbon budgets, but also writing off the cumulative debt of developed countries. Fourthly, accepting these figures (50%, 80%) implicitly accepts specific emissions cut target for developing countries, and locking in this whole distribution of carbon budget and set of emissions cuts.   It implies that in 2050, Annex I total and per capita emissions would be cut by 80% while developing countries’ per capita emissions would be cut to 1.5 ton or about half below 1990 levels and compared to 2005 levels it would be around 40% below in absolute terms and 60% below in per capita terms. The cuts would be even more compared to business as usual in 2050. It is doubtful that developing countries can meet this implied target for them, unless decoupling between emissions and economic growth takes place through a miraculous mechanism. For this decoupling, massive infusions of finance and technology, coupled with institutional and human capacity building is required.   This is why equity is also embedded in the finance and technology issues. The enormity of the problem was not lost on the economist Nicholas Stern who has said : “If the allocations of rights to emit in any given year took greater account both of history and of equity in stocks rather than flows, then rich countries would have rights to emit which were lower than 2 tonnes per capita (possibly even negative). The negotiations of such right involve substantial financial allocations: at $40 per tonne CO2e a total world allocation of rights of, say, 30Gt (roughly the required flows in 2030) would be worth $1.2 trillion per annum”. On estimates on mitigation funds needed, the World Bank estimated that: “In developing countries mitigation could cost $140 to $175 billion a year with associated financing needs of $265 to $565 billion. A study in India (by the CSE) of six sectors to determine India's low carbon growth options concludes: “There is no real way we can reduce emissions without impacting growth once we cross the current emissions-efficiency technology threshold...It is for this reason that India (and all other late entrants to the development game) must not give up on their demand for an equitous global agreement.”   For the power generation sector, a low-carbon strategy could reduce emissions in India cumulatively by 3.4 Gton by 2030-31. The additional cost of generating power from renewable technologies is estimated at US$203 bil or about $10 bil a year or $60 per tonne of CO2 emissions avoided. On adaptation financing needs, the World Bank estimates up to $100 billion a year, higher than the UNFCCC's financial flows report (at $27 to $66 bil a year). The most comprehensive estimate is a IIED-Imperial College study led by Martin Parry which found the adaptation cost for developing countries may come up to $450 billion annually. Financing for technology cooperation and transfer: The UNFCCC's expert group on technology (EGTT) estimates the total finance needs are $300-1,000 billion a year; with developing countries' additional funding needs of $182 – 505 billion a year, for deployment and diffusion of technology. This does not include research and development or demonstration costs in developing countries. IMPLICATIONS FOR NEGOTIATIONS (a) Shared Vision: In the negotiations on shared vision, developing countries have argued that a decision on a global goal (whether temperature limit or global emissions reduction) should be in the context of equity and to be preceded by a paradigm for the equitable sharing of the atmospheric space or resource. This should also be the case for the wording on a global peaking year.   This is a correct position because the global goals for temperature and emissions reduction have implications for the responsibilities of developing countries or for their options in their emissions and thus their economic pathways. This principle of equity in the sharing of atmospheric space has to be operationalised with the use of carbon budget and debt concepts. The data on fair shares and actual emissions and thus on debt/surplus also have major implications for the sharing of the carbon space in the 2010-2050 period, and thus of the allocation of emission obligations and rights as would be expressed in the shared vision's important element of “global goal for emissions reduction.” (b) Mitigation: The concepts and figures on cumulative emissions and carbon debt/surplus make it clear that Annex I Parties must continue to “take the lead” in emissions reduction. If developed countries undertake only weak targets for the next commitment period and their emissions are only reduced a little (or even increases), then there is even less carbon space left for developing countries. The present pledges made either in the Copenhagen Accord or Kyoto Protocol are far from adequate. Various analyses show that the Annex I (including the US) pledges add up collectively to only a 16% reduction (by 2020 compared to 1990) at best and if loopholes (through LULUCF and AAUs) are taken into account there can even be a 6.5% increase in Annex I emissions.  (c) Finance: One way in which the historical carbon debt that developed countries hold may be discharged is through payments into the Green Climate Fund. Besides this, the developed countries have obligations under the UNFCCC to meet mitigation, adaptation and capacity building expenses. The quantum of funds for discharging the carbon debt and for meeting the additional costs are large, but this is to be expected since the financial requirements of adaptation, mitigation, capacity building and technology are massive. The amounts so far announced ($10 bil a year from 2010, and $100 bil by 2020) are inadequate. (d) Technology Transfer: To play their extremely ambitious and difficult role, developing countries need technology at the most affordable rates. The following measures are proposed: (1) They must have the maximum access at least cost to the best technologies; (2) Barriers to technology transfer must be addressed, including the issue of IPRs; (3) Developing countries must be assisted in the development of endogenous technology and to undertake their own R and D and develop innovation, with international support; (4) R and D activities should be financed by UNFCCC funds, and the products from these should be in the public domain; (5) Sufficient funds should be provided for technology development and transfer to developing countries.; (6) A Technology Policy Board or Council should be set up under the UNFCCC to address the technology issues. FOLLOW-UP PROCESS The   workshop   on   equity   in   the AWGLCA on 16 May 2012 is an important opportunity to discuss the role and importance of equity in the UNFCCC and its outcomes and future negotiations. The paper above attempts to show how pervasive the implications of the equity principle are. The workshop is a good start, and it should be followed up by a process, in order to contribute to progress in the negotiations in various structures of the UNFCCC.  It is thus proposed that a work programme be established in the UNFCCC under the COP and which would have effect in its bodies and working groups. The objective should be to examine the various aspects of equity as a principle in UNFCCC and how it is to be operationalized in various issues (mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, shared vision) and various bodies and working groups of the Convention. The recognition and operationalizing of the equity principle will be a major gateway for the raising of environmental ambition, including in facilitating that the means of implementation can be provided in adequate amounts and appropriate forms to developing countries so that they can contribute more to the global mitigation effort as well as to meeting their adaptation needs.                            Contact: director@southcentre.org. This article was published in the South Bulletin (11 June 2012). To view other articles in SouthViews, please click here. For more information, please contact Vicente Paolo Yu of the South Centre: Email yu@southcentre.org, or telephone +41 22 791 80 50.

Del 13 al 22 de junio tendrá lugar en Río de Janeiro (Brasil) la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible (Río+20). A continuación presentamos un análisis de las cuestiones más controvertidas por resolver y de cómo podría Río+20 producir resultados satisfactorios.

Es casi imposible que Río+20 logre ser un hito en la solución de las crisis económicas y medioambientales mundiales, pero todavía puede ser un éxito si se reafirman los antiguos compromisos y se ponen en marcha nuevos procesos para fortalecer las instituciones y establecer nuevos objetivos y planes de acción.

Research Paper 45, June 2012

The new research paper discusses on contexts and recent negotiations in Technology Transfer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change. In terms of proprietary rights, the author categories technologies and related products into three domains: the Public Technologies; Patented Technologies and Future Technologies. After revealing the Effects of Patents on Access to Climate-Related Technologies, a number of measures are discussed to address problems arising should patents become a barrier to the transfer of climate related technologies.

La Conferencia de Durban pone en marcha una nueva ronda de negociaciones sobre el clima

Durante la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre cambio climático que tuvo lugar en Durban (Sudáfrica) en diciembre de 2011, se puso en marcha una nueva ronda de negociaciones sobre el clima con el fin de llegar en 2015 a un acuerdo que entre en vigor en 2020. Los países en desarrollo tendrán que prepararse bien para las negociaciones en las que se determinarán las condiciones del acuerdo.

Policy Brief, November 2011

Twenty years after the Rio Summit 1992, the global sustainable development situation has deteriorated. The environment crisis has worsened. After a period of good development performances in some developing countries, the prospects for the global economy have worsened, with the financial-economic crisis now affecting Europe and the US, which has implications for developing countries. Many developing countries followed an export-led growth strategy; however if the economies of developed countries are stalling, this strategy has to be reviewed. The social dimension is bound to be affected by the environment and economic crises, which has adverse effects on poverty, employment and social services, food security, health, etc.

Climate Policy Brief, November 2011

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has recently issued a report that examines four recent detailed studies of countries’ mitigation pledges under the Cancun Agreements, for the purpose of comparing developed (Annex 1) country pledges to developing (non-Annex 1) country pledges. It finds that there is broad agreement that developing country pledges amount to more mitigation than developed country pledges. That conclusion is robust, in that it applies across all four studies and across all their various cases, despite the diversity of assumptions and methodologies employed and the substantial differences in their quantification of the pledges.  

El Centro del Sur se reúne con el Presidente de Filipinas

En agosto de 2011 tuvo lugar en Filipinas la vigésima séptima reunión de la Junta del Centro del Sur.

Uno de los acontecimientos destacado de esta visita fue la conferencia conjunta organizada en Manila por el Centro del Sur y el Gobierno filipino. Durante la reunión, el Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores, Albert F. Del Rosario, señaló que a los países del Sur no se les escucha ni se les tiene debidamente en cuenta en la adopción de decisiones relativas a la economía mundial.

Bonn (Alemania) 14 de junio de 2011

El Director Ejecutivo del Centro del Sur realizó una presentación durante una reunión especial organizada por la presidencia del Órgano Subsidiario de Asesoramiento Científico y Tecnológico (OSACT) y el Órgano Subsidiario de Ejecución (OSE). El Centro del Sur presenta a continuación el resumen de su presentación.

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Por qué las negociaciones de la Ronda de Doha están en un punto muerto

La gran distancia que separa las posiciones de los miembros de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) hace difícil que los dirigentes del Grupo de los Veinte (G-20) puedan cumplir su promesa de terminar este año las negociaciones de la Ronda de Doha.

La actual ronda de negociaciones de Doha comenzó a finales de 2001 y fue llamada entonces el Programa de Doha para el Desarrollo. La Declaración Ministerial de Doha proclamó que las necesidades de los países en desarrollo se situaban en el centro de las negociaciones.

Informe sobre políticas climáticas, marzo de 2011

La Conferencia sobre el Clima que tuvo lugar del 29 de noviembre al 11 de diciembre de 2010 en Cancún (México) en el marco de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) entraña una gran complejidad tanto en términos de procedimiento como de contenido. En ambos aspectos, esta conferencia tendrá una gran importancia y generará ramificaciones que tardarán años en desplegarse.

La Conferencia de Cancún podría ser recordada en el futuro como el momento en el que el régimen internacional en materia de clima de la CMNUCC sufrió un cambio considerable, que supuso que los países desarrollados fueran tratados de manera más indulgente (prácticamente como los países en desarrollo), mientras que se exigía que los países en desarrollo aumentasen sus obligaciones, para alcanzar un nivel cada vez más cercano al de los países desarrollados.

Climate Policy Brief 3, 30 November 2010

The South Centre released a new Policy Brief addressing some key issues on Cancun Climate Conference, including the lowering of expectations; the Fate and Shape of the Global Climate Regulatory Regime; Disastrous Projection of Pledges; the Obligations Proposed for Developing Countries; and  Cancun  New Structures in Finance, Technology and Adaptation.

Research Paper 33, November 2010

This South Centre Research Paper aims to contribute to the discussion on the issues of environment, development and equity that are at the centre of the climate, development and equity nexus.

Desastres ecológicos: también hay que indemnizar a los países en desarrollo

 El pasado mes de junio, en una intervención que recibió amplia publicidad, el Presidente de los Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, logró que la compañía petrolera BP estableciera un fondo de compensación de 20.000 millones de dólares para cubrir las indemnizaciones por los daños ocasionados por el vertido del golfo de México.

Sin embargo, ha habido catástrofes ambientales mucho peores en los países en desarrollo provocadas por empresas gigantescas, en su mayoría estadounidenses.

Es necesario replantear las políticas de crecimiento de Asia Oriental

La propagación de los efectos de la crisis económica mundial afectará profundamente a China y a otros países de Asia Oriental puesto que sus antiguas estrategias de crecimiento ya no les servirán como antes. Serán necesarios cambios en sus políticas y estrategias económicas, sobre todo en los otros países asiáticos más que en China, a fin de que estos países dependan menos de las exportaciones hacia Occidente.

Documento de investigación número 29 (introducción y conclusión únicamente) mayo de 2010   El objetivo de este documento es examinar algunos aspectos importantes de la interrelación existente entre las problemáticas sobre el cambio climático y aquellas relacionadas con el comercio.   En concreto, el Documento de investigación número 29 analiza el desarrollo de las políticas adoptadas por los gobiernos y los procesos intergubernamentales para hacer frente a la crisis en materia de cambio climático, en especial en el marco del régimen internacional en materia de cambio climático y de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), y sus interrelaciones con el régimen comercial multilateral, en particular con la OMC.

Only 2 of 10 developed countries’ pledges are sufficient to meet the 2 degrees target, and the current pledges lead the world to disastrous global warming of over 3 degrees.

Policy Brief, January 2010

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.

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.

La CMNUCC es un régimen de política bien equilibrado, que incorpora un conjunto de obligaciones y compromisos que tienen en cuenta las responsabilidades comunes pero diferenciadas y capacidades respectivas de los países desarrollados y los países en desarrollo en relación con el cambio climático. Sin embargo, los países desarrollados no han logrado, por lo general, aplicar plenamente y de manera eficaz sus compromisos específicos en el marco de la CMNUCC para tomar la iniciativa en materia de mitigación de los efectos del cambio climático y proveer financiación y tecnología a los países en desarrollo.

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Analytical Note, December 2009

This analytical note looks at how MRV metrics and modalities in relation to paragraphs 1(b)(i) and (ii) of the UNFCCC Bali Action Plan (BAP) can be made operational in ways that reflect the primary sustainable development concerns and perspectives of developing country Parties to the UNFCCC. It suggests that such metrics and modalities have to take into account existing modalities with a view towards further enhancing the effective implementation of the UNFCCC by all Parties.

This document seeks to outline the positive and constraining aspects of various options relating to the possible forms that the agreed outcome of the AWG-LCA process could result in, consistent with its mandate under the Bali Action Plan to enhance the full, sustained and effective implementation of the UNFCCC “now, up to and beyond 2012”. 

Analytical Note, August 2009

This Analytical Note examines flexibilities in the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and possible technology transfer approaches under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as among the possible modalities that developing countries can use to obtain access to and affect transfers of climate-relevant technologies. It looks at the possibilities and challenges that need to be addressed in this regard.

Mr. Vice Yu, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Programme of the South Centre, made a presentation on " The Future of Global Economic Governance in the Face of Global Crises – South Perspectives" at CIDSE Expert Meeting: Crises in global governance, opportunities for global justice  organized by CIDSE (Internacional Cooperation for Development and Solidarity), Brussels on 12 February 2009.

The meeting summary is available at: http://www.cidse.org/aboutus/?id=1011

Documento Analítico SC/GGDP/AN/ENV/7

En el presente Documento Analítico se estudian los niveles necesarios de financiación relacionada con el cambio climático y los conductos de gestión de la financiación pública destinada a alentar la adopción medidas relativas al cambio climático en los países en desarrollo procedente de los países desarrollados parte en la Convención de las Naciones Unidas para el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), es decir, las Partes comprendidas en el Anexo I de la Convención. Se aduce que la financiación pública procedente de las Partes listadas en el Anexo I es insuficiente respecto de las necesidades existentes y refleja una preferencia por conductos externos a la CMNUCC. Se afirma también que dichas Partes cuentan por partida doble la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo y la financiación relacionada con el cambio climático a la hora de demostrar el cumplimiento de sus compromisos en la materia. Concluye que las modalidades existentes mediante las que los países desarrollados proporcionan financiación para contrarrestar el cambio climático menoscaban la CMNUCC en términos de su función como vehículo de financiación relacionada con el cambio climático que guarda conformidad con los objetivos de la CMNUCC y los refuerza.

Editorial: Abogar por una reforma radical de la Organización Mundial del Comercio

Todos los organismos multilaterales, incluida la OMC, están impulsados por un cierto equilibrio de fuerzas en la esfera internacional. Las relaciones asimétricas de poder son parte de la dinámica de las negociaciones internacionales, ya se trate de comercio o de observancia de los derechos de propiedad intelectual. La OMC, a todos los efectos y fines, se ha convertido en una extensión del programa europeo.

Le pregunta que cabe plantearse es la siguiente: ¿Cómo utiliza Europa su poder en la OMC y, en general, en el sistema mundial de comercio? No debería sorprendernos que Europa utilice su fuerza e inteligencia para promover los intereses europeos. Esperar que Europa actúe de otra manera sería ingenuo. Sin embargo, pese a una opulencia externa, Europa atraviesa una grave crisis. La debacle financiera de los Estados Unidos ha puesto en peligro el cómodo nivel de vida de sus banqueros y ciudadanos. Europa es aun más vulnerable que los Estados Unidos al riesgo de pérdida de mercados y de acceso al petróleo y a materias primas.

Editorial: ¿Por qué la propuesta ecuatoriana responde mejor a la crisis financiera que la declaración del G20?

En este número del South Bulletin: Reflections and Foresights, publicamos un Programa para el Sur. Dicho programa parte del discurso promulgado por Pedro Páez Pérez, Ministro de Coordinación de la Política Económica de Ecuador, durante el debate interactivo de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, celebrada el 31 de octubre de 2008. A diferencia del modelo de integración globalizado propuesto por el G20, Pedro Páez Pérez aboga por un modelo regional, que incluye la desvinculación de “la lógica de la crisis del dólar”. Según el ministro, “hoy, la dependencia comercial y el comercio intraempresarial con el Norte son altísimos”.

Pedro Páez Pérez analiza detalladamente los argumentos políticos y técnicos a favor del establecimiento de acuerdos monetarios regionales, incluidos los regímenes cambiarios flexibles para el bloque regional y la creación de divisas regionales.

 

South Centre Analytical Note - September 2008

This Analytical Note stresses that both sustainable development and climate change are interlinked. Climate change will have impacts on the pace and progress of developing countries’ efforts to achieve sustainable development objectives, while achieving such objectives form the fundamental premise upon which developing countries are undertaking their actions to address climate change. Sustainable development is a legitimate aspiration of developing countries whose populations are affected by a wide range of poverty- and climate change-related impacts.

Editorial: Después de la Declaración de París

Desarrollar una estrategia que permita poner fin a la dependencia de la ayuda económica requiere un cambio radical por parte de los países que dependen de dicha ayuda, tanto en su forma de pensar como en su estrategia de desarrollo, y una participación directa de la población en el desarrollo de su propio país. Asimismo, es necesaria una reestructuración radical y fundamental de la arquitectura de la ayuda institucional a escala mundial.

Incluso después de la Declaración de París todavía podemos preguntarnos: ¿cuál es el paso siguiente? Es necesaria una estrategia para terminar con la dependencia de la ayuda y liberarse de ella.

South Centre Analytical Note - August 2008

The paper analyses the positive impact of Decentralized Renewable Energy Technologies on enhancing climate change adaptation capacity in developing countries facing climate change-related increasing hazards. The paper concludes with some recommendations for implementing decentralized renewable energy technologies for climate adaptation in developing countries.

Documento Analítico SC/GGDP/AN/ENV/3, mayo de 2008

Este Documento Analítico del Centro del Sur destaca que, en virtud de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático, se requiere el suministro de financiación por parte de los países desarrollados a los países en desarrollo para implementar la Convención Marco. Sin embargo, dicha financiación no se ha proporcionado aún. Este Documento Analítico sugiere que la Conferencia de las Partes opere directamente el mecanismo de la Convención Marco mediante la configuración de un Fondo especial para el cambio climático, el cual respondería íntegramente a los requisitos de la Convención Marco como parte de la respuesta de la comunidad mundial al cambio climático.

South Centre Analytical Note - May 2008

This South Centre Analytical Note suggests that the modalities for the “measurable, reportable, and verifiable” (MRV) conditions under operative paragraph 1(b)(i) and (ii) of the Bali Action Plan should be the existing MRV modalities with respect to mitigation commitments, financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building under the Convention. 

Documento Analítico- Mayo de 2008

El presente Documento Analítico destaca que los desafíos que plantean el desarrollo y el cambio climático exigen un enfoque integrado. Tanto el régimen de comercio como el relativo al cambio climático deben desempeñar una función específica. En ambos casos, una perspectiva favorable al desarrollo debe guiar los debates a fin de garantizar un resultado que responda a las necesidades y aspiraciones de los países en desarrollo y de sus pueblos. El cambio hacia una economía con bajas emisiones de carbono exige, por un lado,

 

Special Policy Discussion Paper - November 2007

Introduction: The Need for Urgent Global Action on Development and Climate Change (excerpt)

Human-induced climate change is now well recognized as a physical and global reality. Global warming associated with climate change has begun to affect global weather patterns, sea levels, snow cover, ice sheets and rainfall. Regional climate patterns shifts are already affecting watersheds and ecosystems all over the world. The human and financial costs to countries of coping with extreme weather events, crop failures and other emergencies related to climate are growing higher. Developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are already facing difficulties in alleviating poverty as a result of their economic situation, are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Unless current rates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are drastically cut and reversed, global average temperatures will rise by at least 2C by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This will result in, among others, the creation of hundreds of millions of environmental refugees mostly from developing countries, acute water shortages of large proportions of the global population (again mostly in developing countries), food shortages as agricultural production goes down all over the world, sea level rise of at least 1 meter1, and the extinction of a third of the world’s species. Even before that, the expected 1C rise by 2020 and the 1.3C rise by 2025 will already have devastating impacts on the lives and livelihood of people, especially the poor and especially in developing countries.

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