In late April, Nepal will attend yet another climate conference organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany. Unlike the past, Nepal will not just be a mere participant at this conference, but will also lead the 49-nation Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group for the very first time. As a leader, Nepal will have to rise above national interest and even bend backwards to accommodate the views of other countries, especially the majority of African nations in the LDC Group.
LDCs are one of the most vulnerable groups of countries after failing to get a legally binding international agreement at a climate change summit (COP15) held in Denmark in 2009. Now, another opportunity beacons for 2015, which cannot be missed. The inaction of developed countries is already placing heavy burden on these poor countries. In the last few years, not much has been achieved at the UN climate meetings in terms of tackling the catastrophic climate change. For an acceptable outcome in 2015, the LDC Group must engage in substantive policy issues, adequate coordination within and outside the LDC Group and in astute high-level political diplomacy.
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Can Nepal live up to the expectation? The recently organized thematic coordinators’ meeting in Kathmandu bringing together various LDC countries sends a positive signal. This meeting has helped send out an explicit message that Nepal is ready to lead the Group regardless of the challenges ahead. This positive attitude will be imperative in the days ahead as well.
In the LDC coordinators’ meeting, the new chair, Prakash Mathema, vowed to build on the existing foundation, enhance Group’s capacity, strengthen coordination, and work closely with other groups such as Africa and AOSIS, all of which will be the key. Although LDC are the most vulnerable group of countries and it is the least responsible for the climate crisis, the Group has promised ambitious and encouraging climate change policies to set the bar high.
Similarly, the LDC Group chair has also vowed to take leadership with the mantra of “follow us”. If this is to be achieved, the Chair and the Group members will require much more prudence. A climate vulnerable Group like LDCs on the driving seat at the negotiating table is reassuring. With hard work, coordination and planning they can play a role in establishing consensus for 2015 agreement. LDCs will have to prove to other negotiating parties and groups that they have the determination and capacity to lead from the front.
Addressing issues such as adaptation to the impacts of climate change, loss and damage (irreversible harm), financial support for climate actions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (to maintain the world’s average temperature rise below 1.5 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial level) are extremely important for LDCs. Appropriately addressing these issues at the international front and effectively implementing them at the national level will determine the development and prosperity of poor LDCs like Nepal. The immediate challenge remains implementing the National Adaptation Program of Actions (NAPA) addressing urgent and immediate needs and formulating and implementing the National Adaptation Plans (NAP), which will be integrated into mainstream development programs.
Several climate negotiation meetings will be organized in 2013 and the LDC Group will have to be strategic on taking forward the process related to NAP formulation and implementation and on getting an agreement on an international mechanism on loss and damage. The unconvincing mitigation pledges from the developed countries poses grave risk of permanent loss and damage in vulnerable and low lying coastal areas. Similarly, climate finance will be another major issue after the failure of developed countries to live up to their commitments. No concrete short or medium-term guarantees were made at the annual climate conference (COP18) held in Qatar last year.
Raising mitigation ambition is another key aspect for LDCs as this is going to determine sustainable development of already poor and marginalized countries. Also, under new negotiation setting called the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), LDCs will have to employ every possible means to move from a conceptual basis to more content oriented phase and start fleshing out elements they want to see in the 2015 agreement.
In order to achieve the overall objectives of the LDC Group, a strategic approach will be crucial—better coordination among LDC members and increased clarity on political, scientific and policy issues will determine the outcome. Nepal, as the new chair of the LDC Group, will have to cordially work with Group members to build from the groundwork laid out by the former chair, Gambia. It will have to continue building the trust and value the positions of the Group.
The year 2013 will be an important milestone year for the LDC Group, on how they envision a legally binding international agreement for 2015. The chairmanship of Nepal for 2013 and 2014 will have paved most of the groundwork for the future deal. Hence it is of utmost importance that Nepal takes the responsibility with perseverance, but also caution. The LDC Chair has made a fine start and will have to continue to govern so as to get the substance, process and the politics of future climate negotiations right.
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