The first of two weeks of climate change negotiations is coming to a close in Bonn, Germany. NCA’s Ingrid Næss-Holm is there.
"Norway disappointed during the opening meeting on the subject of Kyoto, by making an extremely non-ambitious statement as part of the so-called Umbrella Group," says Næss-Holm.
Norway sits in this group together with Russia, Japan and Canada. These are countries that committed to the first round of the Kyoto Protocol but who have shown decreasing interest in committing to the next period.
In clear terms
"Norwegian civil society actors communicated our disappointment in clear terms to the Norwegian delegation in Bonn, and were pleased to see Norway speak independently at the next opportunity. In contrast to the wording of the joint Umbrella Group statement, Norway has now voiced more clearly its intent to join the next Kyoto commitment period. In doing so, Norway plays a key role in driving negotiations forward, and we encourage the delegation to continue in this vein," continues Næss-Holm.
Kyoto and finance
The Kyoto agreement is one of the major discussion points at the meeting, which serves as a midway meeting point between the COP 16 climate change summit in Mexico 2010 and its successor in Durban 2011. The first Kyoto commitment period is now coming to an end and the way forward has yet to be decided – although hopes are high that this will be hammered out during the COP 17 meeting in South Africa in December.
In addition to the Kyoto Protocol, a wide number of topics will be addressed in Bonn, including financing, which is discussed in closed groups without the presence of civil society actors.
Reports claim that there is considerable disagreement between developing countries and some of the industrialized countries about what should be discussed, and what should be achieved.
"With the next climate change summit to take place in Africa – a continent at great risk for the consequences of climate change – the need to discuss adaptation finance is evident. Expectations will be high, needs great, and it is crucial that the parties reach agreement," concludes Næss-Holm.