COP19: UN unveils draft decision for concrete steps towards 2015 global deal

The new draft decision set out by the United Nations pushes for governments to set out plans to cut emissions for Paris treaty in 2015.

Yesterday, the co-chairs of the Durban Platform for enhanced action work stream, disclosed a draft decision which aims to set out the concrete steps nations should take towards the global deal, scheduled to be finalised in 2015 before coming into action in 2020.

The head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Christiana Figueres, stated that she hoped that a decision between the ministers on the steps to be taken towards the agreement will be made by the end of the week. The draft decision has been developed in light of calls for a more structured process to the climate talks this week.

A draft for the 2015 agreement is due next year and therefore there is a need for much more concrete steps to be developed. The text also includes an annex that outlines the issues that are expected to be addressed by the time the draft agreement is completed next year.

Despite the draft decision being a step in the right direction towards a 2015 deal, there are concerns that the document is lacking in detail and fails to include deadlines for agreeing the concrete national pledges that are needed for any international treat