Beyond Kyoto: towards a north-south bargain on climate change

Five years after discussions on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not enough of the agreed actions had occurred for the Kyoto Protocol to be put into practice. During this time, discussions have reduced the positive impacts of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, reducing the potential for developing countries to benefit from future emissions trading. Can the faltering global climate regime still include the needs of developing countries?

A paper from Tufts University examines how the Kyoto Protocol has affected developing countries. The original United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) disappointed developing countries. By setting the original emission targets as a percentage of 1990 emissions – rather than as an allowance of emissions per capita – the Protocol benefitted industrialised states with high current emissions rather than those whose current emissions are low. Developing countries had wanted more discussion about the actions to be taken by countries responsible for previously high emission levels. They also wanted immediate help to adapt to climate change.

Southern climate campaigners are concerned that:

• Fairness to each nation has declined during post-Kyoto bargaining: national emission reduction targets set by developed countries did not use consistent criteria.
• Negotiations have reduced the number of actions required by the industries and countries that cause the most emissions.
• Projects established to reduce the impacts of climate change for least developed countries are weak, poorly funded and northern-dominated.

Since 1997, discussions have become even less sympathetic to these concerns, particularly as the world’s largest carbon emitter, the USA, has pulled out of Kyoto agreements. Negotiations have added further problems and complications to the Protocol, which was not ideal in the first place. Returning to the original aims of the Kyoto agreement is vital to achieving sustainable development. This is the key aspect of long-term climate change improvements.

Recent meetings between countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol have focused on the need to secure the necessary changes from industrialised countries to bring the Protocol into effect. With efforts being wasted on getting reluctant developed states to re-agree what they had already signed in Kyoto, the longer-term sustainable development objectives of the UNFCCC have been ignored.

Whilst negotiations have not directly harmed the situation for developing countries, they have been dominated by developed nations. They have focused on aspects that favour these nations, and ignored or reduced the aspects more important to developing nations. If future negotiations are to improve the situation for developing countries, the following points must be included:

• Wider recognition that it is the citizens of developed countries who will continue to be more responsible for global emissions, despite the predicted growth in emissions in developing countries.
• Accepting that the goal of sustainable development is a global concern, not just a concern in developing countries.
• Establishing policies that are strong enough to withstand future political changes as well as climatic changes.
• Moving from allocations based upon percentages towards per capita emission targets.
• Proper funding of programmes to help developing countries adapt to climate change – especially at local and community levels.

Developing country governments, academics and activists have been quiet for too long. Developing nations have been not been active enough in environmental negotiations, criticising existing mechanisms rather than suggesting practical suggestions to change the policies of climate regime. Now is the time to seize the initiative.

Source(s):
‘Climate negotiations beyond Kyoto: developing countries concerns and interests’, Climate Policy 3, pp. 221-231, by Adil Najama, Saleemul Huq and Youba Sokona, 2003

id21 Research Highlight: 15 January 2005

Further Information:
Adil Najam
The Fletcher School
Tufts University
160 Packard Avenue
Medford, MA 02155-7082
USA
http://fletcher.tufts.edu

Tel: +1 617 627 2706
Fax: +1 617 627 3712
Contact the contributor: adil.najam@tufts.edu

The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA

Other related links:
'Securing development in the face of climate change'

'International policy in supporting adaptation'

Alleviate or adapt? How can the south prepare for climate change?

IIED Climate change programme

IDS Bulletin - Climate change and development