The Road to Copenhagen 1: Setting the Agenda in Bonn
03/06/09 18:50
The next stage in the process leading up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Copenhagen meeting (usually referred to as a “cop” or council or consultation of the signatory parties) began this week in Bonn, Germany. I’m not able to attend, but the process is important and I’ve been receiving almost hourly updates from colleagues there. You can see some of their progress and concerns on a video blog in order to get an idea of what being there is like. The most obvious issues are US climate mitigation policy, such as the Waxman/Markey bill (discussed in previous entries). But climate adaptation finance — the “adaptation fund” — is showing up a big second topic as well. Some background on adaptation finance was covered as well in previous entries here indirectly and here for more general issues. However, a “side event” has been planned to continue the process associated with the Nairobi Guiding Principles for freshwater adaptation and the water sector. What are those goals? And why does Bonn matter?
This is actually the second meeting in an elaborate dance to define the agenda in advance of the December sessions in Copenhagen. Promoting issues on the special nature of the water sector for climate adaptation is an uphill goal, but major international policy often begins in a slow, gradual way — planting seeds for future talks. I believe this is the true goal of the freshwater adaptation side event being scheduled by GPPN, IUCN, IWA, and other groups. More updates on that as they develop.
For contrast, the Kyoto Protocol itself began as a seed at the Rio Convention in 1992 before becoming a formal piece of policy for ratification in 1997 — and that finally entered into effect only in the last few years.
So, while climate mitigation and adaptation finance are critical to resolve this December, we need to begin to look forward. How will international discussions begin to shift from climate mitigation policy to climate adaptation practice? What does good adaptation look like? And how can we support the good work that is slowly percolating through the lives of people and wild species?
