What was it all about?

The conference brought together representatives from over 180 countries with non government organisations and the media.  The delegates discussed the follow up to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.  They concluded an agreement to take forward international negotiations that should ultimately lead to a new international agreement on climate change from 2012 onwards.















UN conference delegates gather in Bali (photo from UNFCCC website)


Why?

Because delegates from all countries agreed that the scientific evidence on climate change is now so strong and the consequences potentially so damaging that countries have to take action. The conference agreed: 

“that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and that delay in reducing emissions significantly constrains opportunities to achieve lower stabilization levels and increases the risk of more severe climate change impacts.”





What happens now?

There will be detailed negotiations between countries between now and 2009 to hammer out an agreement.  These will focus on a number of issues: 

* action for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods
* ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
* ways to widely deploy climate-friendly technologies
* financing both adaptation and mitigation measures 

The results of the negotiations will be presented to another big UN conference for agreement in 2009.


Was it a Success?

Yes, according to the UK government.  Hilary Benn, the UK Government Minister who attended the conference said:

“This is an historic breakthrough and a huge step forward. For the first time ever all the world’s nations have agreed to negotiate on a deal to tackle dangerous climate change concluding in 2009.” 

Environmental groups were more cautious.  The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomed the agreement but noted that “the price of US participation… was a deal weak on substance.”  And the only sour note at the conclusion of the conference came from the United States, where the White House expressed ‘serious concerns’ about the treaty, suggesting that future negotiations will indeed be tough.

For further information

The UN website gives full details of the conference and the action plan. See:          http://unfccc.int/2860.php.  Assessments of the causes and consequences of climate change that formed the basis of the conference are available from the website of the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) : http://www.ipcc.ch/  




The Church of Scotland has established the Responding to Climate Change Project.  For further details go to the Church of Scotland’s website: http://churchofscotland.org.uk   or contact Adrian Shaw, Project Officer: 
email: ashaw@cofscotland.org.uk  or telephone: 0131 225 5722 

Church of Scotland, 121, George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN.      Charity Number: SC011353