Q&A: Cancun climate change conference 2010 - Telegraph

Q&A: Cancun climate change conference 2010 - Telegraph

Q&A: Cancun climate change conference 2010
More than 190 nations are meeting in Cancun, Mexico for the latest round of United Nations talks towards a global deal on stopping catastrophic climate change.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent 4:16PM GMT 23 Nov 2010
What is happening at the Cancun climate summit?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was set up to stop global temperatures rising above dangerous levels as a result of man made emissions. Each year the Conference of the Parties (COP) meet to discuss progress. This is COP 16. The ultimate aim is a global deal that commits the world to cutting greenhouse gases by 50 per cent by 2050. Other ways to cut emissions include deals to stop deforestation and help poor countries develop in a green way.

Who will be there?

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Officials and environment ministers from 194 countries will meet at the Moon Palace Hotel and the Cancunmesse on the coastal resort of Cancun, Mexico. All together an estimated 15,000 people representing Governments, charities and media will travel to Cancun for the conference.

What does this have to do with Copenhagen?

The last meeting of the COP in Copenhagen ended in recrimination and failure. The meeting was billed as ‘the last chance to save the planet’ and world leaders including US President Barack Obama turned up. However rich and poor nations failed to agree on a legally binding target to cut emissions. Instead a weak ‘Copenhagen Accord’ was signed that allows countries to choose their own targets but has no power to force them to keep the promises.

Will this time be different?

In comparison to Copenhagen this meeting has been massively down played, largely because ministers from all countries do not want to look stupid again for promising a deal that is unlikely. World leaders are not even turning up this time, leaving it to their environment and foreign ministers.

So will anything be achieved?

It is generally agreed that a global deal to cut emissions is unlikely. Indeed Christiania Figueres, the head of the talks, believes a single, definitive and all-encompassing deal is unlikely to happen in her lifetime. However supporters of the process are hopeful that the talks could make progress towards a deal by putting in place the ‘functioning architecture’. For example it needs to be decided how emissions will be “monitored, reported and verified” before countries are happy to sign up to targets.

Who are the main players?

Christiania Figueres, the executive secretary of UNFCCC, a former negotiator from Costa Rica, is in charge of the talks. Fernando Tudela, Mexico’s main delegate, who is hoping for a breakthrough. Connie Hedegaard, EU climate action commissioner, is not too optimistic about negotiations. Xie Zhenhua, China's lead climate official, wants to see developed countries "do more and do better". Todd Stern, the US special envoy for climate change, believes each country should choose their own targets.

What are the main issues?

The ultimate aim of agreeing a global deal on cutting emissions is likely to be put to one side for now because it is so difficult for the world to agree. Instead there may be a series of ‘mini-deals’ on issues like deforestation, with rich nations agreeing to pay poor nations not to chop down trees. Countries could also decide how to share information on green technology so poor nations do not miss out on the opportunities to cut emissions through new inventions. A key issue is 'climate finance', which is the money paid out to poor countries to help them fight climate change.

Is there any money on the table?

Yes $100 (£60) billion by 2020 to help poor countries adapt to climate change and cut emissions. However there are further discussions on how this money will be raised. One of the most popular suggestion is through a tax on aviation and shipping. There is also a question over who will dole out funds. Will it be the World Bank or a whole new institution? This money will be used to help persuade developing nations to cut emissions. In the short term there is $10 (£6) billion per annum up to 2013 to help poor countries start adapting to climate change now. The UK has pledged £1.5 billion towards this ‘Fast Start Fund’.