Politics could be a threat or saviour at Copenhagen. What we need is the political will for change. What we don’t need is political posturing. So, how are things shaping up for some of the big players at the summit?
Until recently, many people were expecting China and India to be big blockers. But in the last week, we have seen both countries put forward emissions intensity targets (carbon emissions per unit of GDP). China has pledged to reduce emissions intensity by 40-45%, while India has pledged to reduce emissions intensity by 20-25% by 2020. Other developing nations like South Africa are also laying down the gauntlet to developed nations by adopting firm emissions stabilisation targets.
With Obama recently agreeing to attend the final days of the summit rather than the first week, momentum is building for an agreement between the more than 100 heads of state that will be attending.
While there is a real risk that the outcome will be little more than greenwash and an empty political declaration, it is not too late for a binding treaty to be agreed upon. Our team on the ground have been following the negotiations for years and, along with other NGOs, have drafted their own version of a treaty.
The text for a new global treaty could be pulled together within 48 hours if the political will is there.
So what about Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd?
Rudd has been positioning himself on the world stage as an honest broker of a strong climate treaty. But, domestically, rather than getting on with the job, he’s been playing politics to drive a wedge through a federal Opposition riddled with climate deniers. For all the soaring rhetoric, the reality is that Australia’s emissions continue to grow and our coal industry continues to expand … rapidly.
When Rudd arrives in Copenhagen, 10 proposed new coal power stations will be on the drawing board around the country, as well as plans to double Australia’s coal exports. It doesn’t add up. Unless, of course, our negotiators manage to pull off the big swindle they’ve been working towards.
Hidden in the depth of negotiations on land use and forestry, Australia is plotting a rort that could see us achieve an 8% emissions reduction through doing nothing other than cooking the books. That’s right, a giant piece of accountancy fraud.
» Take action: join the Copenhagen Rapid Response team
