Bali: a deal of sorts

Last Modified: 15 Dec 2007
By: Julian Rush

An eventual deal at the UN climate change conference in Bali sets a global aim for deep cuts in global emissions.

An eventual deal at the UN climate change conference in Bali sets a global aim for deep cuts in global emissions.

There were boos and hisses for the Americans, who held firm against setting clear targets for cutting emissions. At one point the UN chief negotiatior broke down in tears. But the US did sign up in the end to two years of future talks

A deal today - but no action until tomorrow. Yet the climax of the UN climate change conference in Bali is being hailed as a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.

It had been an emotional night - delegates cried, harangued, pleaded, and booed.

And finally the Americans agreed to a U-turn, though it still fell short of what the Europeans had pushed for.

Under the agreement there will now be two years of talks, starting in April, to thrash out a deal to succeed Kyoto in 2012 to bind outsiders, led by the United States, China and India.

The Balie agreement has set a global aim for "deep cuts in global emissions".

The Bali talks were never expected to set firm greenhouse gas emissions targets, but the Bali agreement has set a global aim for "deep cuts in global emissions" to avoid dangerous climate change.

The final text distinguishes between rich and poor countries, calling on developed nations to consider "quantified" emissions cuts and developing countries to consider "mitigation actions".

The Bali meeting agreed to launch a UN fund to help poor nations cope with damage from climate change, such as droughts or rising seas. The adaptation fund now comprises only about $36m, but might rise to $1-$5 billion a year by 2030 if investment in green technology in developing nations surges.

The accord, enabling the fund to start in 2008, broke deadlock on management by splitting responsibility between the Global Environment Facility, which funds clean energy projects, and the World Bank. The fund would have a 16-member board with strong representation from developing nations.

A pay-and-preserve scheme known as reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries (REDD) aims to allow poorer nations from 2013 to sell carbon offsets to rich countries in return for not burning their tropical forests.

The 189 nations recognised the urgent need to take further action to cut carbon and methane emissions from tropical forests. The draft decision encourages parties to undertake pilot projects to address the main causes of deforestation.

The final draft called for more financial resources and investment for developing countries on adaptation, mitigation and technology cooperation.

The meeting postponed until next year any consideration of a plan to fund an untested technology which captures and buries the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, emitted from power plants that burn fossil fuels. Some countries want capture and storage to qualify for carbon offsets for slowing global warming.

Bali failed to agree whether or not to allow companies to sell carbon offsets from destroying new production of powerful greenhouse gases called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Benefiting factories have been the biggest winners under a UN scheme to reward companies which cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The final draft called for more financial resources and investment for developing countries on adaptation, mitigation and technology cooperation, especially for the most vulnerable.

Technology transfer is a key demand of developing nations. They say they should not have to sacrifice growth to fight warming, but cannot afford the clean technologies that would allow them to expand their economies while curbing emissions.