June 11, 2015 – With less than six months before countries agree on a new climate agreement, the path for addressing short and long-term climate action is unclear. Countries spent two weeks trying to “streamline” a 90-page negotiating text and made very little progress on negotiating substance. Key issues related to increasing short-term actions to reduce emissions, financial support from developed countries, and fairly sharing the burden of addressing climate change are not adequately addressed. However, countries unexpectedly reached agreement on a final set of guidelines for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+).
Below are statements from CIEL’s Climate & Energy Team:
Niranjali Amerasinghe
“It is disappointing that countries did not make more progress on the new agreement, and that there was no serious discussion about how to increase climate action in the shorter term. We cannot address climate change by relying heavily on future actions. Dramatic emissions cuts need to happen now, and we need to see developed countries putting real financial and technological support on the table. We also have to rule out false solutions to climate change, such as bio energy carbon capture and storage, that will threaten food security, biodiversity, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.”
Allison Silverman
“The completion of the REDD+ framework is important, but not enough to ensure key areas, such as biodiversity and rights, are protected. The decision on safeguards only provides a little more clarity on reporting on social and environmental protections. There is also limited treatment of non-carbon benefits, which are critical for REDD+’s long-term sustainability. With the Green Climate Fund expected to disburse funding for REDD+ this year, we will have to see whether finance will flow to the right kinds of activities and whether safeguards are respected.”
Alyssa Johl
“As countries continue to streamline the agreement in the coming months, it is essential that they address the human rights dimensions of climate change. We need human rights protections in the text of the agreement as well as a fair and ambitious agreement that will protect the lives and livelihoods of all.”
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Press contact: Amanda Kistler, Communications Manager, akistler@ciel.org or +001 202 742 5832