Was the climate summit a complete failure or were steps made in the right direction for a new climate treaty? Views are divided on the outcome of the climate summit in the South African city of Durban. Between 2006 and 2010, Dutchman Yvo de Boer was the United Nation’s highest representative on climate matters. He too left the conference with mixed feelings.

‘I am very positive about the kind of cooperation which has come about in Durban between Europe and a large number of developing countries. In the past, these kinds of talks were mainly a North versus South debates and that has changed.”

For instance, at the request of developing countries, the European Union has agreed to place agreements to reduce greenhouse gasses under the Kyoto protocol. The treaty is binding and was due to end in 2012, but has now been extended by three years. The other big polluters (who are responsible for 85 percent of CO2-emissions) have only agreed to take voluntary measures until 2020.

Vague wording
These countries – i.e. the United States, China and India – have promised to help negotiate a new climate agreement to succeed 'Kyoto'. But Mr De Boer says the outcome of this agreement is “a bit vague.”

“They talk about the development of a protocol, or another judicial instrument, or some other construction with judicial powers – so the wording is a bit vague.”

Nevertheless, the meagre outcome of ‘Durban’ does not mean environmental pollution will increase immediately. The Kyoto agreements still stand and more and more developing countries, according to Mr De Boer, are seriously trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Secondly, a large number of developing countries, including China, are trying to make their economies more efficient out of economic interests. So you can see that action is being taken in developing countries, in spite of the fact that no hard agreements have been made.”

Green climate fund
One concrete result of the climate summit, Mr De Boer says, is the launch of a ‘Green Climate Fund’ for poor countries.

From the year 2020, the fund has to make up to 74 billion euros available to help poor countries build a sustainable economy. Bearing the current economic crisis in mind, it seems an unrealistically high amount. But Yvo de Boer hopes that by then the crisis will be “far behind us” . A number of European countries has already deposited money in the fund says Mr De Boer. The biggest problem is the United States where the issue of the climate “has been completely demonised”.

The next climate summit is next year in Qatar.

(nc)