Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury:In the early hours of Sunday morning in Lima, Peru, United Nations (UN) members have reached agreement on how countries should tackle climate change. These talks were being held to forge a blueprint for a global agreement due to be adopted in Paris in 2015.
The Lima climate talks began on an upbeat note after China, USA and the European Union announced new commitments to cut carbon pollution. The euphoria was short lived as they were brought down to earth by the perennial divide between rich and poor nations in the negotiations. Countries need to share the burden for carbon dioxide reduction but who will pay?
Industrialised countries are held responsible for the pollution that is causing the climate change effects that are already being felt but developing nations are not seeing the commitment needed to limit emissions. Developed countries are now expected to set targets that go beyond their present undertaking.
There had been an initiative for rich nations to provide $100bn a year for climate finance by 2020 but developing nations are bitterly disappointed by the way that the green climate fund has been reduced over the years. There has now been a loss and damage scheme established to help poorer countries cope with the financial implications of rising temperatures. Environmental groups are scathing in their response to the document, stating that it is nowhere near drastic enough. Their fears that there would not be a fair and ambitious outcome have been tragically accurate
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