The United Nations recently agreed to a legally binding climate agreement, in a much anticipated climate conference, COP 21, in Paris, France. The final agreement was adopted with applause and standing ovation in an audience of nearly 5,000.After the Copenhagen climate debacle in 2009, a roadmap was agreed in 2011 in South Africa to adopt a legally binding international agreement to contain the runaway climate change. After four years of uninterrupted negotiations, UN multilateral process finally delivered a compromised climate agreement. It is not the best outcome many poor and most vulnerable countries had expected but given the complexity of the problem, the final outcome was broadly acceptable. Nearly 150 heads of States and Governments and Ministers from 196 countries attended the conference
The role of French government is commendable. France used its diplomatic channels to the fullest and held multiple build-up events throughout the year. Its Foreign Minister and special climate change envoy worked relentlessly, visiting most key countries to take their views.
Paris agreement
The agreement that comes into effect from 2020 could have been more ambitious in tackling climate change. But, on a promising note, the hard-negotiated document binds all countries to make collective effort in tackling this grave problem.Unlike Kyoto Protocol that placed onus on developed countries, this agreement is applicable to all parties under UNFCCC.
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and African countries had strongly advocated for global temperature goal to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. The US, European Union, Australia, Japan and major economies like China and India pushed for 2°C global goal.
The views of the poor and most vulnerable countries was in recognition of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report that suggests the impacts of 2°C temperature increase would lead to rapid melting of glaciers and likelihood of low lying small island states disappearing. The final Agreement includes reference to well below 2°C goal with an anticipative language to peruse efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C. This compromised language was considered a win for poor and vulnerable countries.
Long-term temperature goal has been set but carbon mitigation actions to match the target are left to individual countries based on their circumstances. This will be presented through a five yearly document called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Before going to Paris, 190 countries presented their NDCs of which many were conditional on financial support.
According to initial analysis by the UNFCCC, these contributions fell far short of what was needed and would put the world on the path of 2.7°C increase. The agreement emphasizes a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century. It asks all countries to update and communicate their present NDCs in order to order to meet the global goal.
Loss and damage was another key issue of LDCs and SIDS. Due to strong resistance from the US and other developed countries, the issue of compensation and liability was dropped.
Climate finance was the most crucial but contentious issue in Paris. Developing countries strongly demanded that developed countries provide more financial assistance through simplified and enhanced access to developing countries. However, no concrete number was included in the legally binding part of the deal. The reference to a joint goal to mobilise US$ 100 billion annually by 2020 for low carbon and climate resilient development is included in the decision text.
The US$ 100 billion goal will be extended through to 2025 and a new collective finance goal will be defined considering the same minimum base. LDCs and SIDS are given a special consideration when accessing financial resources. Rich developing countries will also supplement developed countries' efforts in supporting other developing countries.
Developed vs developing
The discussion over differentiation between developed and developing countries was protracted. In fact, many crucial issues were held hostage to this discussion until the very end. Finally, major developing countries relinquished their stance allowing Paris Agreement to rip apart the absolute firewall between developed and developing countries set up in 1992.
This is an indication that developing countries are becoming rich and capable of taking international responsibilities. The Paris Agreement, for the first time, has encouraged bigger and economically capable developing countries to take financial responsibility, though on a voluntarily basis. Similarly, the Agreement also binds all countries to take mitigation measures. The deal does not accord flexibility to developing countries but one other sign of breakdown of differentiation is adoption of a single system of measuring, reporting and verifying of climate actions for all countries. This clearly shows that the world is not the same since climate change convention was agreed 23 years ago.
Nepal's role
Minister and Secretary from Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE) led Nepal's COP21 delegation to Paris. Nepal highlighted its agenda and asserted its national interest. The prominence of Nepal's role in 2013 and 2014 as chair of 48 LDC countries was unrelenting in Paris. Aligning with sentiments of the LDC Group, which Nepal is a member of, Nepal strongly advocated for 1.5°C temperature goal, raised the issue of loss and damage and called for easy and enhanced access to climate finance for poor countries.
Above all, Nepal passionately raised mountain agenda under climate regime. It even demanded concerns of Small Mountainous Developing Countries (SMDC) be given a special attention when it comes to addressing adverse impacts of climate change. A strong base has been laid for the future to raise mountain issues and associated vulnerability. Nepal must give continuity to this work.
Future course
Paris Agreement is only the beginning and much depends on the ambitious actions taken to implement it. But it has given a strong global message to fossil fuel industry and future investments. Any sensible investor will have to think deeply about where to invest to be economically viable and gain goodwill. Immediately after Paris deal, the head of Europe's coal lobby, Brian Ricketts, put it aptly that as a result of the Paris climate deal they will now be hated and vilified in the same way that slave-traders were once. This sends a clear message of where the world is headed.
The future roadmap is clear for Nepal. While it prepares to ratify the Paris Agreement, it must undertake rigorous homework and pave the path for sustainable development. There are several adaptation pipeline projects to be implemented as a part of National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPA). They must be expedited. Priority should be preparation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to address the medium and long-term climate adaptation needs.
Similarly, Low Carbon Economic Development Strategy draft must be immediately approved through a consultative and inter-ministerial dialogue. This document can be the basis for Nepal's low carbon future. Nepal should be committed to internal enabling environments to make most out of international agreements.
The author is the director of Prakriti Resources Centre and was a member of Nepal's COP21 delegation in Paris
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