There was no deal or a lot of coal in the Glasgow climate talks and for Patricia Espinosa, United Nations climate secretary, there was no other option.
“No deal was the worst possible outcome there. Nobody wins, ”Espinosa said in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, some 15 hours after nearly 200 countries agreed to what is now called the Glasgow Climate Pact.
The world reached a climate agreement that, according to outside experts, showed progress, but not success. It failed to achieve any of the three UN goals: pledges that would cut global carbon dioxide emissions by about half, $ 100 billion in annual climate aid from rich countries to poor ones, and half of that money will go to help the developing world adapt to the damage. of a warming world.
Even more disappointing, a large world economy – India – already experiencing droughts and extreme heat from global warming was the nation that diluted the final Glasgow deal.
“I am satisfied,” said Espinosa. “I think this is a very positive result in the sense that it gives us very clear guidance on what we have to do in the coming years.”
A climate deal by itself will not do the trick to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial times, the overall goal of the UN, Espinosa said. But he said it sets the stage, creating a carbon market, allowing more money to flow from rich to poor nations, even if poor nations are dissatisfied and say it is not enough.
“It doesn’t completely satisfy everyone,” he said. “But it moves us forward. It’s a good compromise. “
Compromise was essential when a last-minute proposal nearly killed his potential deal.
India, the third-most carbon-polluting country whose development focuses on coal, said it could not live with historical language calling for a phasing out of coal and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. For many of the countries, especially the small island nations facing the threats of rising sea levels, ending coal was key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and trying to keep warming at a level that would allow living to their nations. Many countries told Espinosa and the president of the conference, Alok Sharma, that the language of elimination of coal “has to be there.”
But no deal or a deal without India was unacceptable.
UN climate chief: ‘Good compromise’ is better than no warming deal. # COP26 # Global Warming # Coal
A series of small negotiations broke out. Many on camera, which Espinosa said was important to the world. Small island nations were consulted. They didn’t like it, but they like Espinosa, and US climate envoy John Kerry said he had no other choice. India would not have preferred any language over charcoal, Espinosa said. Instead, India proposed that “phase out” become a “phase out” and country after country said they hated the idea, but accepted it.
“I think it is a clear example of commitment,” said Espinosa.
Is it blackmail?
“Some people see it that way, but I would say that this is really the essence of multilateral negotiation,” said the veteran Mexican diplomat. “Everybody comes to the table with some specific concerns, puts them on the table and is participating in good faith.”
The way Espinosa sees it, the fact that India had to make the switch was because the negotiations pushed and pushed India to do more. If the talks hadn’t been pushing for more changes, there would have been no drama, he said.
Still, it is not what Espinosa wanted.
“We would have preferred a very clear statement on phasing out coal and (the) elimination of fossil fuel subsidies,” Espinosa said, but understands India’s needs.
And even the phrase “gradual reduction” can mean more than Espinosa seems to have said: “When you say gradual reduction you are not saying what the limit is and therefore zero can be the limit.”
But somehow it was not the most tense moment of the two-week climate negotiations for Espinosa. That came on Friday, the ostensible last day.
“I was worried,” Espinosa said. “I was looking at my watch and thinking, ‘Okay, how can we keep this going if the text doesn’t get broad support?”
In the end, a day later, an agreement was reached with many nations due to the coal controversy.
Espinosa then asked his staff to rush out to buy sushi and celebratory wine.
“We had this very short toast and we had to leave, because the place was going to close,” he laughed.
Reference-www.nationalobserver.com