Dear friends,
Gut-wrenching suspense in Bali at noon on Saturday. Governments are on
the brink of adopting text on actions for developing countries! There
had been informal agreement on it and clean text was brought to
Plenary. IF adopted, this would be the very first time the G-77
(developing countries) accept the notion of "measurable, reportable
and verifiable" mitigation actions by developing countries. It would
be a huge success for the US and EU. These would not be any actual
commitments, only an agreement to negotiate them under the Bali
Roadmap. Very significant nonetheless as a milestone and a precursor
for future developments.
This comes as a surprise. Insiders tell me it was India who proposed
it, of all countries! Then an hour ago this morning India dropped a
bombshell. All brackets had been removed and when everyone thought it
a done deal, they proposed to switch words around and make finance and
technology 'measurable and verifiable' - but not clearly the
mitigation actions. Now intense consultations between G-77 ministers.
Here is the full original text:
"Decides to launch a comprehensive process ... including
consideration of ... measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally
appropriate mitigation actions by developing country Parties in the
context of sustainable development, supported by technology and
enabled by financing and capacity building." India wants to lift the
three words from the beginning and throw them at the end - thus making
'measurable, reportable and verifiable' refer to finance and
technology. The US will never accept this, told me someone on the
Canadian delegation.
The indicative range of 25-40 percent cuts is out of the Convention
Dialogue text - but still remains, bracketed, in the AWG text. There
is still time for the roadmap to collapse.
I need to leave for the airport in 20 minutes. Follow the meeting live
at http://www.un.org/webcast/unfccc/
Best,
Radoslav S. Dimitrov, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
University of Western Ontario
Social Science Centre
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 5C2
Tel. +1(519) 661-2111 ext. 85023
Fax +1(519) 661-3904
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
