Poznan Talks: Who is flying?

The Stork takes its flight...

By Avilash Roul

The Poznan climate talks began last December 1 here in Poznan-historical city of Poland. This 14 Conference of Parties (COP-14) considers to be the bridge from last year's Bali talks to next year's Copenhagen. Is it really a bridge? The beginning of the discussion shows many bumpy roads ahead to reach the Copenhagen on Dec 1, 2009. The "shared vision," as it is accepted during this climate talks, has many fissures within two days of dialogue. This COP is being considered by large number of delegates and participants a test case for the political will of many countries to look beyond individual commitments. The caution in this climate change issue is being discussed under the global economic crisis right now.

During the last couple of days, the clear battleground has been identified and the warriors are ready to take on the open-ended battle. The major contentious issue is, as usual, the greenhouse gas emission reduction target from the developed countries (Annex-1) after 2012. The developed countries have already created the fraction in the talks by showing many scientific modules of economic growth and emission reduction.

The typical climate lingo, such as Myth, slow progress, incoherent, disjointed, lack of seriousness, differentiated responsibility, historical responsibility, fractured mandate, confusion and so on, has been hurling against each other in this expensive talk shows. In the typical fashion of complex climate talks, the presentations and arguments-counter arguments and clarifications and comments have already started among the most visible actors in the negotiations. However, this is as usual in the climate talks. Media has switched off their laptop, pen and mind to write all these time and again as annual rituals.

The visibility of the US in this talk is minimal so far. The European Union has been coming up with new commitments and ideas to the negotiation so far. As usual, Saudi Arab is trying to create hurdles in any developed countries-suggested path. Kuwait is complaining the financial assistance for and as the most climate change affected country in the world! Japan is fixed with sectoral approach to the emission reduction. Russian Federation is convincing the world that the linkages of economic growth and emissions are different from country to country. China is impatient about the Annex-1 Countries’ slow progress on second commitment period and targets. India has been toying and arguing carefully to avoid any inclusion of its commitment to reduce the GHG emissions. African countries are arguing for more funds and projects under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Colombia has been arguing for more CDM projects like Belarus. Other small countries are just taking participation to leave the battleground for the world Kaisers.

Similarly, parallel NGO meetings (closed door, as well as open door) are being strategized endlessly. The environmental NGOs from developed countries are spearheading the strategy to tackle or mold the Poznan talks by gathering intelligence and by making bridge among the major official players. Most participants are looking forward to fly to Copenhagen in 2009.

Does this mean less focus is given on Poznan? Is it going to be a talk show again? Let’s hope not. Although affected people-climate orphans around the world are not visible in this high profile conference, the world leaders must not wait or waste any time till Copenhagen.

Let’s see...