The Barcelona Protocol is Adopted!

The final post-Kyoto resolution, now known as the Barcelona Protocol, was formally adopted by consensus at 4:34pm on May 8, 2009. The successful vote was followed by five full minutes of applause.

oikos media productions hopes to make the final document available soon online.

Missing Delegate; Plenary in Recess

Plenary discussions have been interrupted because of a missing swing vote. When consensus could not be reached regarding emissions reduction by non-Annex I countries, a 3/4 majority vote was called for - and resulted in 13 ayes and one missing delegate. The representative from Poland, whose absence could not immediately be explained, was expected to make the decisive supporting vote (14 votes are needed to reach 3/4 majority).

The Czech delegate called for a recess, in hopes her coalition member would be found quickly.

At issue: Russia argues in favour of stronger commitments by developing countries, while China seeks to delay their commitments.

Delegates Enter the Final Plenary

At 2.10 pm, the final plenary session of the Model UNFCCC negotiations in Barcelona came to order. Delegates are discussing the proposed text of the resolution, hoping to reach consensus.

Coalition against nuclear power

A coalition against nuclear power is forming in the international community, and thus far includes:

• The United Kingdom
• Poland
• Saudi Arabia
• Venezuela
• Germany (see our prior article on the German position)
  

With this new bloc, the proposal to include nuclear power in the CDM seems increasingly unlikely to pass.

CDM Committee not taking new nuclear developments into account

Despite concerns raided by the previously reported attack on the nuclear power plant in France, the CDM working group plans to recommend the inclusion of nuclear power as a carbon offset, with a preliminary ceiling set at 25% of all CDM allowances.

Despite the predictions of some NGOs present at the meetings, discussions did not change signifcantly based on the recent tragedy.

Millions of people in the streets
In Europe, millions of people are demonstrating against the use of nuclear power, and against its inclusion in the CDM.

UK, Germany and Greenpeace are shocked
The delegate from United Kingdom, Fedor Durnev, responds to the situation on behalf of a nascent coalition:

"The United Kingdom, Germany and Greenpeace France are baffled by the ongoing efforts to include nuclear energy in future CDM projects. Taking into account the yesterday’s discussions in the closing plenary session, and especially the tragic event in France today, the reluctance of the CDM committee to reconsider this issue are beyond comprehension."

Germany Prevaricates
Mr. Durnev boasts that his country has been phasing out nuclear energy since 2001, and adds:

"Considering what happened in France today, we think that it was a good decision and we encourage other countries to implement the same strategy. Due to the friendship with France, we will not vote against nuclear energies - but we still consider 25% much too high. To reach a common opinion on this, Germany has offered to support the French automobile industry by investing to make it more fuel-efficient and fuel-flexible,

oikos media thinks: Words alone will not save the world. How can the UK be against something and yet vote in favour of it?

It seems as if the international community again fails to act in concert, even when a nuclear catastrophe is upon us...

EU announces 90% reduction by 2050

The EU delegates at the Barcelona 2009 UNFCCC negotiations announced that no matter the outcome of the Climate Change Summit: "The EU will reduce its GHG emissions by 90% by 2050!"

They take 1990 as a baseline.

What effect will this announcement have?
It will be interesting to observe if and how this announcement will affect the negotiations in Barcelona. Will the delegates come to a global, multilateral agreement? Can the world decide together? Or are regional coalitions the only level at which joint decisions can be made?

Voices for Real Change Get Louder

According to a calculation of Sudan, the reductions suggested by the Working Group on Mitigation would lead to a 1.12% increase of CO2 emissions globally, whereas Africa would need a 95% decrease of emissions to avoid devastating climate change effects.

"If the non-annex 1 countries do not commit to the reduction of CO2 emissions, the whole system does not work", says Sudan delegate Othmar Schwarz.

Poland and Russia speak up

The delegate from Poland says she is "shocked" and that "this gives the impression that negotiations are focused on financing, rather than joint solutions. Poland is committed to cooperation toward the goal of global emissions reductions."

Russia, in a public interview, also changed its rigid position of yesterday and publicly announced a new commitment to reduce own emissions 10% by 2020, with 1990 as the base year.