Dead Heat In Doha

As the world races to solve climate change, five nations have drawn a dead heat in equal last. Or rather equal first in Climate Action Network’s (CAN) “Fossil of the Day” award, an accolade bestowed upon the country doing the least to aid the climate negotiations according to over six hundred NGOs.

In its fourteenth year, today was a historic first with Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the United States tying for first place. All countries have avoided committing to either the first or second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

It’s not all doom and gloom in Doha though as a “Ray of the Day” was also awarded to the European Union for meeting their 2020 emissions reductions target almost ten years in advance. Questions still loom in the hallways as participants alike wonder if the EU will rest easy this fortnight, or strive to go beyond their 2020 targets and push other countries to commit to the second period of Kyoto.

It’s safe to say that COP18 attendees won’t be resting easy this fortnight though as the future of the Kyoto Protocol remains unknown.

By Holly Jones and Linh Do, photo by Andrés Fuentes.