Americas Quarterly

Negotiating a Green Commitment Ricardo Lagos

capacity to face the tasks of reducing emissions.

The principle of equity holds that any reduction in global warming should allow for the economic growth of developing countries. In practice this means that developed countries that have already benefited from the lower standards of the past should be subject to higher standards. In contrast, this principle establishes that developing countries need sufficient flexibility to make the transition to lower carbon emissions at a pace consistent with their capacity.

Accountability for many countries refers to the historical responsibility of each country for greenhouse gas emissions from the past and future. Based on the calculation that emissions can stay 110 to 120

years in the atmosphere, the UN estimates that the U.S. is responsible for 29 percent of the greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere; Germany for seven percent; China approaching seven percent; the United Kingdom six percent, and Russia with five percent—collectively representing the five largest ah

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financing is needed for all the above?

The Kyoto Protocol established two national categories. The first comprises the 36 industrialized nations listed in Annex 1. And the second includes the countries not listed in Annex 1—generally, developing countries. According to the Kyoto Protocol, all countries listed in Annex 1 must reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5. 2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012. Non-Annex 1 countries are encouraged to reduce emissions within their capability.

The U.S. and Australia did not ratify the Protocol, on the grounds that other big GHG emitters like

China and India would be able to use their develop-ing-country status to avoid making large reductions. Many argued that the U.S. has a historical obligation to move faster than other countries based on its record of past emissions. But in any case, the U.S. failure to join Kyoto allowed developing countries to escape their obligations as well. Many countries argued that without U. S. participation, there was even less reason to take steps that would limit their economic growth country status to avoid making large reductions.

Many argued that the U.S. has a historical obligation to move faster than other countries based on its record of past emissions. But in any case, the U.S. failure to join Kyoto allowed developing countries to escape their obligations as well. Many countries argued that without U. S. participation, there was even less reason to take steps that would limit their economic growth

ALTERNATIVE;
it is an obligation.
;

emitters. It is on this basis that countries talk about the differentiated historical responsibilities of industrial countries based on accumulated emissions.

The principle of capacity recognizes that countries will have different scientific and technological abilities to adopt emission-reduction measures.

The Kyoto Protocol, approved in 1997, included
these principles and has four main sections. These
sections address the following questions: what needs
to be done to mitigate emissions? What measures are
taken to adapt to something that will happen? What
technological elements can be transferred from one
country to another in order to advance faster? What
sa u t
al responsibilities of indus-
cumulated emissions.
y recognizes that coun-
tific and technological
ction measures.
in 1997, included
sections. These
what needs
ures are
at

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and thus their capacity to reduce poverty.

The Kyoto agreement expires in 2012. What comes next is unclear. To move the debate forward, the UN has held three meetings: the Bali Climate Change Conference in December 2007, the Poznan Climate Change Conference in December 2008 and, in December, the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

The 2007 Bali Conference added a fifth topic, deforestation, to the list of key climate change issues of mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing. Deforestation contributes an estimated 18 percent to total global emissions. The other main contributors are energy power ( 24 percent), transportation ( 14 and thus their capacity to reduce poverty.

The Kyoto agreement expires in 2012. What comes next is unclear. To move the debate forward, the UN has held three meetings: the Bali Climate Change Conference in December 2007, the Poznan Climate Change Conference in December 2008 and, in Decem- ber, the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.