Bonn 1: Action needed to close rich-poor climate divide

[amyrose2712]

Climate talks in June will go nowhere unless rich countries close the gap between what scientists and poor countries say is needed and what they are prepared to deliver warned international agency, Oxfam, as negotiations came to a close in Bonn today (8 April).

For the first time developing countries have clearly outlined the level of emission reductions they expect from individual rich nations. This has thrown a spotlight on the huge gulf between rich and poor country positions. It is feared the air of optimism, created by the presence of a new US team, will quickly turn sour if rich countries fail to close the gap.

Developing countries, who face catastrophe if climate change is not held in check, are demanding rich nations cut their emissions by at least 40 percent on 1990 levels by 2020. Small island states and many least developed countries are pushing for a 45 percent cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020 but huge pressure is being brought to exclude any reference to this proposal in the talk’s concluding statement.

(snip)

Bonn is the last round of talks before a negotiation text for Copenhagen is drafted. The UN has agreed two additional rounds of negotiations – in Bonn in August and Barcelona in November.

http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2009-04-08/bonn-action-needed-climate

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Covering the UN Climate Talks, in Bonn: The ‘pre-sessionals’
Published by annackeenan, March 27th, 2009 Climate Justice , Climate Policy , Copenhagen 2009 , Europe , International Affairs , Poland Climate Talks , Political Participation , Politics , Poznan 2008 , Youth Leaders , global warming 7 Comments

COP15 in Copenhagen this December – the meeting where governments are set to decide whether they will come together to lead on solving climate change peacefully, or whether they force us to take things into our own hands – is not the only UN meeting on climate change this year. There are three important ‘intersessional’ meetings of the UNFCCC bodies and working groups – ‘Bonn 1′, in Germany for the first two weeks of April, ‘Bonn 2′, for the first two weeks in June, and ‘Bangkok’ in September.

http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/03/27/bonn-1-blog-1-the-pre-sessionals/