The
international Climate Action Network has released a report outlining
what would be needed for a successful climate deal, and covers
mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and the legal architecture
aspects of a potential agreement.
The check list is titled
'Fair, Ambitious and Binding - Essentials for a Successful Deal in
Copenhagen', and served as a scorecard for observers tracking the
progress of the Copenhagen climate negotiations and evaluating the
outcomes.
"This check list defines the actions required to avoid
catastrophic climate change, while sustaining the global economy and
adapting to the climate change we can't avoid," said Climate Action
Network International director David Turnbull.
"The science is clear. We have the yardstick for measuring what leaders agree to in Copenhagen," he added.
The
highlighted essentials from the check list included: a commitment to
keep warming below 2 °C, with emissions peaking between 2013 and 2017,
and concentrations lowering to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide
equivalent; industrialised countries as a group must take a target of
more than 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 - most of which should be met
through domestic emissions reductions; and developing countries must be
supported in their efforts to limit the growth of their industrial
emissions, making substantial reductions below business-as-usual.
Also,
the organisation stated that emissions from deforestation and
degradation must be reduced to zero by 2020, funded by at least
$35-billion a year from developed countries.
"Developed
countries need to provide at least $195-billion in public financing per
year by 2020, in addition to official development assistance
commitments, for developing country actions," added the Climate Action
Network.
"Copenhagen outcomes must be legally binding and
enforceable: a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol; and a
complementary agreement with comparable action and enforcement for the
US, and action from developing countries," reiterated the organisation.
Importantly,
the report also stated that until the international community agreed to
a system that provided better environmental outcomes, a stronger
compliance mechanism and had widespread support, the Kyoto Protocol
should continue with a second commitment period.
This point
has been strongly argued by the African negotiating bloc at climate
negotiations, as the Kyoto Protocol is an already established a system
whereby developed countries commit to take legally binding emission
reduction targets and to be subject to an international compliance
regime.
A fear existed that if the Kyoto Protocol was not
extended for a second commitment period, developed nations would not be
held legally accountable.
Climate Action Network is a global
network of over 500 environment, development and faith-based
organisations working to limit climate change to sustainable levels.
