The UN Climate talks in Cancún started later than expected for me. The flight to Cancún hit a technical problem and the hundreds of passengers, including Ministers and Prime Ministers ended up 24 hours in Gatwick instead of in Cancún.
I am told by those that were here that on the surface at least there has been a more positive atmosphere in the plenary session, including more positive signals from G77 + China.
People were shocked at the hard line taken by. Japan in stating that they wouldn't sign up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol, given their role in negotiating this and their very positive recent role on the question of biodiversity in Nagoya. However, I am also told that Japan has been softening this stance a little since. So, we will have to wait and see.
At the Interparliamentary Union meeting this morning, COP 16 Chair Patricia Espinosa stresses that Mexico is trying to be more open and transparent in the way the negotiations are being carried out. She tells us there will be no hidden texts and no sudden production of texts produced in a hidden way for adoption.
Ms Espinosa tells us that possibly for the first time coming out of COP 16 in Cancun there will be mechanisms on adaptation, technology and capacity building especially for the very vulnerable countries and those with less resources. She also forsees for the first time mechanisms for financing in the long-term, so that governments are able to ensure the continuity of those efforts.
Mr Saber Chowdhury, an MP from Bangladesh, sounds a more sober note about the scepticism of vulnerable developing countries. Developed countries have never fulfilled their pledges on Official Develpment Assistance, so how are we to believe that this will be any different?
He stresses that we need to change the development paradigm. Until now, developing
countries were seen as passive recipients of aid. Now, he says, massive transfer of technologies and of the requisite finance must allow developing countries to leapfrog in their development onto a clean, green economy.
This theme is taken up by Dr Kumi Naidoo, Head of Greenpeace International who slams the lack of progress on the fast-start financing promised last year at Copenagen. In all our languages, 'fast' means 'quick', he says, so why the foot dragging on this $30bn 'fast-start' finance for 2010-2012.?
He also stresses the need to help developing countries to by-pass the dirty development pathways of the industrialised countries, asking why the world cannot mobilise for this even a fraction of the trillions mobilised to meet the financial crisis.
Meanwhile, the positive signal from G77 at the outset of these UN climate change negotiations indicates they are ready for a legally binding agreement. Ms Espinosa, Chair of these UN negotiations, takes up this point this morning, saying there is a need for action by ALL countries, developed and developing countries. She stresses, however the difference in the nature of commitments needed from developed and from developing countries.
I look forward to discussing more the details of the progress made to date when we meet with UNFCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres later this afternoon
I am told by those that were here that on the surface at least there has been a more positive atmosphere in the plenary session, including more positive signals from G77 + China.
People were shocked at the hard line taken by. Japan in stating that they wouldn't sign up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol, given their role in negotiating this and their very positive recent role on the question of biodiversity in Nagoya. However, I am also told that Japan has been softening this stance a little since. So, we will have to wait and see.
At the Interparliamentary Union meeting this morning, COP 16 Chair Patricia Espinosa stresses that Mexico is trying to be more open and transparent in the way the negotiations are being carried out. She tells us there will be no hidden texts and no sudden production of texts produced in a hidden way for adoption.
Ms Espinosa tells us that possibly for the first time coming out of COP 16 in Cancun there will be mechanisms on adaptation, technology and capacity building especially for the very vulnerable countries and those with less resources. She also forsees for the first time mechanisms for financing in the long-term, so that governments are able to ensure the continuity of those efforts.
Mr Saber Chowdhury, an MP from Bangladesh, sounds a more sober note about the scepticism of vulnerable developing countries. Developed countries have never fulfilled their pledges on Official Develpment Assistance, so how are we to believe that this will be any different?
He stresses that we need to change the development paradigm. Until now, developing
countries were seen as passive recipients of aid. Now, he says, massive transfer of technologies and of the requisite finance must allow developing countries to leapfrog in their development onto a clean, green economy.
This theme is taken up by Dr Kumi Naidoo, Head of Greenpeace International who slams the lack of progress on the fast-start financing promised last year at Copenagen. In all our languages, 'fast' means 'quick', he says, so why the foot dragging on this $30bn 'fast-start' finance for 2010-2012.?
He also stresses the need to help developing countries to by-pass the dirty development pathways of the industrialised countries, asking why the world cannot mobilise for this even a fraction of the trillions mobilised to meet the financial crisis.
Meanwhile, the positive signal from G77 at the outset of these UN climate change negotiations indicates they are ready for a legally binding agreement. Ms Espinosa, Chair of these UN negotiations, takes up this point this morning, saying there is a need for action by ALL countries, developed and developing countries. She stresses, however the difference in the nature of commitments needed from developed and from developing countries.
I look forward to discussing more the details of the progress made to date when we meet with UNFCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres later this afternoon
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