Optimistic start on the opening day of COP18

The 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in the impressive Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday and the modd has been positive.

COP18 runs until December 7 but it is expected that  negotiations will continue until December 9 and crucial agreements could be reached in these final hours.

It has been widely proposed that the 2009 COP15 in Copenhagen failed to deliver on several key issues and left the parties without legally binding agreements. It did, however, establish the Green Climate Fund (GCF), reform aspects of the clean development mechanism (CDM), and reach agreement on the Copenhagen Accord.

COP17 in Durban in 2011 also failed to reach binding agreements but the Durban Platform was established and has contributed to further successes in the process.

The Conference was opened yesterday keynote speeches by the President of the Conference and the chairs of key working groups and opening addresses were made yesterday by a diverse range of groups including the G-77/China, the Arab Group, the African Group and the BASIC nations (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) among others.

The crucial topics that will be addressed in the coming days include the adoption of a second Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period, implementation of the Durban Platform, development of the GCF and the future and development of new “market mechanisms”.

 

If any progress is to be seen from COP18 it will be paramount for developed nations to demonstrate leadership. Without the world’s largest emitters, such as the United States and China there is little hope of significant progress being made.

The Doha conference got off to a business-like if uneventful start yesterday and little can be taken from these opening stages. The mood has been one of optimism and there is the belief that legally binding agreements can be reached that address the key issues in the climate change debate.