COP 16 may pave way for favorable outcome in coming Conference (COP 17) - Papua New Guinea Eco-Forestry Forum Inc.

A positive outcome of COP 16 was the agreement to establish a new global climate fund under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). While this was welcome news for most global parties, there was strong opposition from civil society organizations for the World Bank which was given the interim trustee of the Fund to take control of the funds based on previous experiences with the bank. The banks trustee role will be reviewed after 3 years.

 

To date there was no decision on the size of the fund or where it was going to come from.

 

Conference of Parties 16 (COP) from November 29 to December 10, 2010 one of world's most powerful gatherings, which PNG Eco Forestry Forum with other Accra Caucus members participated in Cancun, Mexico.

 

Representing PNG EFF were Board Chairman, Kenn Mondiai, Executive Director, Thomas Paka and Climate Change Coordinator, Dr. Justin Ondopa.

 

The Accra Caucus members participated and lobby through side events, organize delegation meeting on indigenous people's rights in climate talks, good governance, equal participation, proper land use, and push to protect forests among other issues. 

 

"The Cancun Conference was observed by many to be a success compared to Copenhagen. Many observers and participants saw Cancun as reviving the spirit of 'multilaterism' and restoring faith in the UN process", says Dr. Ondopa.

 

Positive press described the meeting as the stepping stone towards maintaining an international legally binding commitment to reduce emission.

 

Dr. Ondopa said that the Cancun Agreements have incorporated the Copenhagen Accord, and signed a likely shift to form binding regime to reduce emissions (the Kyoto Protocol) to unilateral voluntary pledges.

 

"Current targets put the world on tract for temperature rises of 2.5 to 4.2 ⁰C (and rising) by the end of the century. The Agreements positively paved way for legally binding agreements to reduce Green House Gases (GHGs) come COP17 in Durban, South Africa later this year."

 

The COP 16 also resulted in REDD agreements aimed at enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) to be fair, ambitious and participatory through adequate funds. This new decision on REDD+, was part of a comprehensive set of decisions to move forward on addressing climate change, represents a positive step forward in conserving and sustainably managing the world's forests to combat climate change.

 

(PNG Eco-Forestry Forum Inc, http://www.ecoforestry.org.pg/)