COP21:Climate deal final draft 'agreed' in Paris

[cal04]

Source: BBC

Organisers of the climate talks in Paris say a final draft text has been agreed after nearly two weeks of intensive negotiations.

An official in the office of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the AFP news agency the draft would be presented to ministers at 10:30 GMT.

(snip)
"We have a text to present," the official said, adding that the draft would be now translated into the UN's six official languages.

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Analysts say that this is not a done deal - ratification will only take place if there are no objections raised at Saturday morning's ministerial meeting, and even is unlikely to come before afternoon in the French capital.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35079532

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French and UN officials completed an edit early on Saturday of the final draft to be presented to ministers for adoption, conference host France said, after nearly two weeks of tough haggling for a climate rescue pact.

"We have a text to present," an official in the office of Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who presides over the talks said.

After translation into the UN's six official languages, the document will be presented to ministers at 11.30 am (1030 GMT), nearly 16 hours after the conference had been scheduled to close.

http://www.thestatesman.com/news/latest-headlines/final-draft-of-climate-deal-ready-for-adoption/110064.html

[hopemountain]

1. consensus is always an accomplishment

no matter how tiny the steps forward or even sideways. trust the process.

[MBS]

2. absolutely right.n/t

[karynnj]

4. especially as hopes were not that high even three years ago

That anything at all could be done. I hope it is big enough that it generates motivation on its own.

One thing it has shown is how completely out of step the Republicans are with the rest of the world.

[mylye2222]

3. Laurent Fabius' s presentation LIVE NOW.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. The text, and a first summary:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/293087130/Final-draft-Paris-climate-agreement

What's in and out of the new text

In:

an aim of keeping temperatures below 1.5C, a much tougher ambition than the 2C that nearly 200 governments agreed for the first time six years ago

a 5 year ‘stocktake’ of how countries are doing on their climate plans, with the first happening in 2023

‘loss and damage’, a mechanism for addressing the financial losses vulnerable countries face from climate impacts such as extreme weather. The language is such that the US should be happy: it “does not involve or provide a basis for any liability or compensation”

a request for countries to revisit their national climate plans in 2018, before they come into affect post-2020

Out:

A clear timescale of when fossil fuels must be phased out in the second half of the century. The previous draft said parties would work “towards reaching greenhouse gas emissions neutrality in the second half of the century”. This one doesn’t.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/12/paris-climate-talks-francois-hollande-to-join-summit-as-final-draft-published-live#block-566c1676e4b052107bd8b4e9

[pampango]

6. James Hansen, father of climate change awareness, calls Paris talks 'a fraud'

“It’s a fraud really, a fake,” he says, rubbing his head. “It’s just bullshit for them to say: ‘We’ll have a 2C warming target and then try to do a little better every five years.’ It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”

Hansen, 74, has just returned from Paris where he again called for a price to be placed on each tonne of carbon from major emitters (he’s suggested a “fee” – because “taxes scare people off” – of $15 a tonne that would rise $10 a year and bring in $600bn in the US alone). There aren’t many takers, even among “big green” as Hansen labels environment groups.

“Many of the conservatives know climate change is not a hoax. But those running for president are hamstrung by the fact they think they can’t get the nomination if they say this is an issue. They wouldn’t get money from the fossil fuel industry.”

From being possibly America’s most celebrated scientist, Hansen is now probably its most prominent climate activist. He’s been arrested several times in protests outside the White House over mining and the controversial Keystone pipeline extension. ... There is a positive note to end on, however. Global emissions have somewhat stalled and Hansen believes China, the world’s largest emitter, will now step up to provide the leadership lacking from the US. A submerged Fifth Avenue and deadly heatwaves aren’t an inevitability.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/12/james-hansen-climate-change-paris-talks-fraud

Sure hope he is wrong about Paris. He is not wrong about republicans which makes you wonder how any agreement will be approved by congress.