Climate Change Conference: results of the COP 20 in Peru

Abstract

The citizens´ reaction in defense of the quality of life is a global concern and indignation. Following Monica Araya (1), we can say that the aspiration for a lower pollution rate and greener and cleaner energy space, are becoming more prevalent among the citizens, thereby creating favorable conditions for mass claims and global use of renewable energy. The renowned Costa Rican economist and climate change negotiator for his country notes that the online petition raised by citizens this year has required governments to opt for one hundred percent clean energy, a claim supported by 2,2 million people around the world, and that the People's March for Climate September 21, 2014 was a milestone. More than 400 000 citizens marched peacefully through the streets of Manhattan supported by 3 000 events ranging from Bogota to Sydney. There were marches in 166 countries with well-informed citizens in favor of a fair economy that does not damage peoples´ health through the use of renewable energy.

According to a survey by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American citizen is concerned about climate change (2). He knows this is a real problem that can impact your environment. On November 2, the international scientific community through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had its Fifth Report published, where it addresses the urgency to care about the climate change issue (1).

Established at the Rio Summit in 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994 with the aim to reduce concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, and in 1995 urged the Conference of the Parties (COP, by its acronym in English) as the supreme decision-making body. Participants of 195 countries, which have submitted their instruments of ratification, meet once a year for two weeks to review the implementation of the Convention and to develop the negotiation process between the parties before making new commitments.

Under the rules of the Convention, all Parties have common responsibilities, but differentiated. These differentiated actions, take into account, inter alia, the specific character of their national and regional development, objectives and priorities circumstances. Their common responsibilities, however, are: 1) to collect and share information on GHG emissions, national policies and best practices; 2) to launch national strategies for addressing GHG emissions and adapting to expected impacts of climate change and determining the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries support; and 3) to cooperate to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Peru is a member of the Convention and also part of the Kyoto Protocol since 2002. As such, it participates in international negotiations and strongly supports the multilateral effort to reach a binding, ambitious and effective result by the search for consensus in the process negotiator. As a country committed to sustainable national development in a global context, it promotes low-carbon economic dynamics and contributes to the global effort to reduce GHG emissions.

The Peruvian territory is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and, therefore, so is its population, productive activities and its natural ecosystems (3).

In the COP20, held in Lima from 1 to December 12, 2014, 195 countries convened with the presence of 14 000 representatives. It was visited by seven Heads of State. "Voices for Climate", a space for the population in general, welcomed over 80 000 visitors. More than 400 conferences were presented and several initiatives were organized. "Put your Party" citizen mobilization campaign generated 330 000 commitments at the national level (4).

Thanks to the COP20 meeting carried out in our country and mobilization campaigns about it, climate change issues will get the priority they deserve in the dialogue table. The COP20 means a turning point in the agenda for the integration of climate change variable; on one hand, because we are aware of the need to include this issue in the development agenda, and secondly, because an opportunity to disseminate the plans of action on climate change from each sector and organization.

The greatest achievement of the COP20 is the understanding of all participating States expressed in the "Lima Appeal for climate action" and major agreements such as the incorporation of the mechanism "losses and damages", and the acceptance of the adaptation strategy to climate change especially for developing countries.  The Green Climate Fund, which exceeded the figure of 10 billion 200 million dollars, was a result of nine decisions on climate finance which aimed to achieve the target of 10 billion dollars by 2020.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, including the United States, have largely contribute to the solution, but each country has to do its part to address these changes in order to leave the next generation with a clean planet. He said that “only those nations that step up and respond to this threat can legitimately lay claim to any mantle of leadership and global responsibility.” And warned delegates of the participating countries that should we fail in this struggle, future generations will not forgive us and judge our actions as a "moral failure" (5).

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, praised the development of a new international treaty on the subject, which would take effect in 2020, and expressed hope that the final agreement is adopted in Paris in 2015.  He urged all countries in the COP20, especially the major economies, to submit ambitious national commitments to reduce the gases that damage the atmosphere, well in advance of the Conference in Paris (6).