December 09, 2015

A climate coalition reveals itself

editor:	Vanessa Ellingham

Six months ago a secret climate coalition was firmed, representing more than 100 countries on the developing and developed world, including the US.

Last night they revealed themselves at the UN climate talks in Paris as a force to be reckoned with, with four key demands.

The coalition wants an agreement at Paris to be legally binding; to set a clear long-term goal on global warming that is in line with scientific advice; to introduce a mechanism for reviewing countries’ emissions commitments every five years; and create a unified system for tracking countries’ progress on meeting their carbon goals.

Representing the US, all EU member states, as well as 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the groups two notable absences are China and India.

The move is significant because it forms a major new power at the talks that wants to come to as strong an agreement as possible. Countries are meeting in Paris to forge a new global agreement on climate change, with limits on emissions and finance for poorer countries, to kick in from 2020 when current commitments expire.

The Paris talks, which are now into their final days, are seen as a make-or-break meeting, because if they fail the world will lack effective collective action on global warming.

Miguel Arias Cañete, the EU climate commissioner, said the alliance showed that developed and developing countries could work together with a common interest.

“These negotiations are not about them and us. They are about all of us, developed and developing countries, finding common ground and solutions together. We urge other countries to join us. Together we can do it,” he said.