#32 The Bonn Informals
The 300-350 Show on August 27, 2009
Another negotiating week on the road to Copenhagen has come and gone. We try and tell you as much as we can in plain English about where the talks currently stand, now that there are just 100 days left to go to Copenhagen. Our focus here, is on the overall “shared vision” element of the agreement.
Key points
- The Association of Small Island States and Least Developed Countries (together representing over 80 countries) now support both the 1.5°C maximum temperature target and reducing greenhouse gases to a concentration level of 350ppm CO2e in the atmosphere
- More countries now support the 1.5°C target than the 2°C target that Europe and the Obama-convened Major Economies Forum (representing only 39 nations) support
- European Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas agrees that 2°C is no longer safe and that the upper threshold should be 1.5°C maximum temperature rise
- The Africa group of around 50 countries won’t support even a 2°C target until they see stronger commitments from rich nations on domestic action and finance
- UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chair, Rajendra Pachauri, has come out in support of the 350ppm target
References specific to the key points
- Videos of press conferences and plenaries (UNFCCC)
- AoSIS & LDCs come together over 1.5 degrees celcius & 350ppm target
- Major Economies Forum Declaration on Energy & Climate (9 June 2009)
- Why the IPCC 2007 Report Lacked ‘Embers’ (New York Times, February 2009)
- Revised ‘Embers’ (PNAS, February 2009)
- Vice Chair of the IPCC asks the EU to reconsider its 2C target (23 June 2009)
- European Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas departs from his script to endorse 1.5C maximum temperature rise
- IPCC Chair supports 350 target
Links relating to the August Bonn Informals generally
- Bali Action Plan (just four pages!)
- Revised Negotiating Text for the AWG-LCA (Based on the Bali Action Plan)
- Current Negotiating Texts for the AWG-KP (where they are considering further commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol)
- Climate Action Network’s ECO newsletters
- Earth Negotiations Bulletin – Summary
- Third World Network coverage of Bonn Informals
Other related links
At the European Commission in Brussels, June 2009, IPCC Vice Chair, Jean-Pascal van Ypersele suggests that it’s time to review the 2C targret in the light of the 2007 IPCCC report: