Everyone’s a Critic: Day 6 at COP16

The focus, and agitation, over the details of various texts on Friday was continued on Saturday at COP16. It was stocktaking Saturday, as nations reviewed progress and were updated on the negotiations.

In particular a new draft text outlining options negotiated for a possible deal at Cancun came under criticism from both developed and developing nations, only making the deadlock it attempted to break worse.

The text left ambiguous the future of any post-2012 agreement or a second commitment period for Kyoto.

Developed nations criticised it for being vague and not ensuring enough action from developing nations. Meanwhile smaller developing nations, in particular pacific islands, claimed the text was too weak in its aim for a global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, instead demanding the more ambitious 1.5 degrees.

The G77 and China stressed that a second commitment period for Kyoto is the cornerstone of a successful outcome at Cancun.

If parties are not able to fully agree on a second commitment period, then Cancun must at least bring a clear deadline and process to ensure that this will happen in Duban COP17.

COP President and Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa underlined the need for political decisions next week when ministers are gathered at the negotiations, and reminded everyone present of the urgency of these negotiations.

“I call upon you to act with a renewed sense of urgency,” she said.

She also again dismissed the suggestion of a secret Mexican-prepared text, instead stressing the transparency in the negotiations. This has been a common theme throughout the conference, and many observers are noting how much more visible Espinosa is compared to her predecessor, Yvo de Boer.

Nothing major, just the continuation of (relatively) small details and small grievances, both which of course have big outcomes. It’ll be interesting to see how these differences are negotiated over the next week, and whether the spirit of compromise and transparency that has so far been stressed at every opportunity will take hold in the second week.

Update: Sunday will not be rest day, with an informal session of minister being called. This writer however, will be resting heavily after the NGO party on Saturday night. Or conducting interviews at the World Climate Summit.