The climate summit in Copenhagen has ended with a treaty after two weeks of face-to-face debate and more than a year of pre-summit negotiations. Given the scientific case for urgent action to mitigate the impact of manmade climate change, it was reasonable for countries like Ethiopia to expect something more substantial.
The accord underlines consensus among world leaders to keep future global temperature rises below 2C, a figure that scientist say will prevent the worst impacts of climate change. More specifically, the deal includes the first formal financial commitment by richer nations to help poorer ones adapt to the threat of climate change. It pledges a sum of $30bn to provide short-term aid to help developing countries cope up with the effect of climate change. It‘s also agreed a goal of setting up a $100bn a year by 2020 to address their long term needs.
The Copenhagen accord turned out to be a disappointment for those who hoped to see the dawn of a new global climate order. It felt short on specifics. No targets whatsoever for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, no future deadline set for the legally binding deal to cut carbon emissions and no guarantee or information on where the climate funds will come from. Instead many commitments were left to future negotiations. Even so, Copenhagen represents a new start if followed by further actions.
Clearly, a radical reframing of climate change policy needs to be adopted so that a proper deal can be struck at next year's climate talks in Mexico. Some have suggested that a group of 20 nations be set up now so that its representatives can work on a draft treaty, and develop a consensus about future deals among other nations. Faced with an agenda stripped of crippling detail, our leaders will then be far more likely to agree to a formula that will allow us to tackle global warming. At the same time, individual nations and power blocs, such as the EU, need to announce their own binding carbon cut commitments and maintain the momentum of the Copenhagen talks.
Given Ethiopia’s experience with climate change so far it is important to see progress continue. Ethiopia looks to work with the rest of the world to invest in its already ambitious green development path.