Doha Briefs: Common Accounting Mechanism and the Status Quo Games
Us
against them?
It just hit 2am and everybody’s
looking at each other with a wee bit of anger. Everyone’s tired obviously. Mugs
of coffee are scattered all over the table. Thus far the negotiations have centred
on two fronts; on one side there is a conglomerate of state parties who do not
want to push through the agreements and another struggling to do the complete
opposite.
One of the issues that have caused
quite some uproar is the position of the U.S, yes Obama’s U.S and New Zealand
concerning accounting. Basically they have refused to advance the accounting
rules, hence stalled the negotiations concerning common accounting. It is like
throwing the spanner in the works. Essentially, common accounting is crucial in
terms of quantifying emission reduction[1].
The commitment problem!!
Annex 1 countries are still not
coming out clearly and transparently concerning their targets. Common
accounting rules are important in assessing progress towards the goals set out
in addition to evaluating the effort that is put in realizing this ambition. These
rules are crucial in strengthening the international carbon markets. The lack
of commitment therefore shown by some of the Annex 1 countries jeopardizes the
robustness of the carbon markets mechanism. The countries which are hindering the
development of the common accounting rules make it very difficult to realize
the targets that have been set, of less than 2 degree warming and a significant
reduction in emissions. This also has an effect on the issue
of surpluses. As alluded to in our earlier brief, the issue of surpluses
is crucial and sensitive. In spilling the surpluses to the second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, countries would not have to account much
for their emissions since the shift will focus in buying emission permits. That
is an eventuality we do not want to even consider.
Tiny Bites…..
Essentially the U.S and New Zealand
wanted to maintain the status quo by not wanting to further enhance the common
accounting rules.
South Africa took a different view
from the two “fossil giants” preferring the advancement of the rules to enhance
transparency and accountability.
Canada have not expressed a
favourable position regarding finance and are increasingly being recognized as
“COP 18 villains” together with Russia, Ukraine, Poland New Zealand among a few
others.
Norway have been making massive steps
towards contribution towards efforts to reduce emissions, however, it has been
found that they have not reduced their emissions because extraction and
consumption of oil and gas has increased hence they have been put to task about
it.
Conclusion
The up-shot is that there is a desire
and urgency to enhance a 2nd commitment period with regard to the
Kyoto Protocol. However, there are some Parties which are less than willing to
see this through. They are less than transparent when it comes to commitment to
a 2nd post Kyoto period.
Hello Team,
ReplyDeleteIts great to see you guys representing us in Doha, really proud of you and its really amazing stuff you are doing with keeping all of us updated through blogging.
For me, the COP has lost its relevance. From the above story, it seems like the case of 'same script different cast'. 17 years of side-stepping an issue that scientists have declared the 'greatest challenge humanity has ever faced' is a testament to our collective level of awareness (consciousness). Einstein once said, "You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness/thinking/energy that created it". This is what we've been trying to do for the past 17 years. And you know what Einstein still said about this type of posturing, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'
But why go to climate conferences especially for us as youth? Why participate in this circus? I answered this question myself during last year's COP 17. The answer is: To witness and observe the madness and create networks and solutions that will be innovative enough to replace this 'insanity'. I hope you are realizing the same for yourselves guys. Do not lose hope, feel isolated and disillusioned but create a different way and connect the dots.
All the best and hope to read more from the team!