Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
By UN Rep Ayuska Motha
The COP25 negotiations finally ended 44 hours later than they were scheduled to and it is a time to take a look at what has been accomplished. From the big picture perspective, many are disappointed since this was supposed to be a COP of action. Hopes were high that countries would set forth more ambitious goals to make cuts to their greenhouse gas emissions and thus hopefully setting us on on track to limit global warming to agreed upon levels of well below under 2C (or as close to 1.5C as possible). This was, unfortunately, not the case and we are still headed for much higher global warming levels than our species (as well as millions of other species) can adapt to.
In terms of the issues that were to be discussed and the implementation rules to be agreed upon, large issues such as 1) how to finance the costs of climate change-induced loss and damage that is occurring all vulnerable countries and regions, 2) creating rules for a carbon market, and 3) agreeing upon a 5 year gender action plan, were all tough issues that all took longer than the 2 weeks to negotiate. The carbon market issue is still open and will be put off for further discussion at the mid-sessional meetings in June in Bonn, with decisions possibly in November at the COP26 in Glasgow. This was actually good news since the draft of the rules as they were, were unacceptable to civil society and to many other countries. More good news was the adoption of a 5 year gender action plan that will help to ensure that women’s voices are included in the UN climate change discussions.
What was very apparent this time was the widening disconnect between what the people on the streets want and what many of the negotiators are working toward. The general public seems to be actively and regularly protesting on the streets (often led by the youth), demanding radical climate action. But within the UN halls, there seems to be a painfully slow process where one has to wonder whether the whole goal may be to stall or delay action altogether. Some countries are more active in their attempts than others.
What was positive was the way civil society groups banded together during the whole conference, and especially within the past 3 days, to bring a unified message to the negotiators at the UNFCCC and to see that it actually made a difference! It was an exciting roller coaster of a COP and it was an honor to be able to represent FAWCO there along with the other 28 members of the Women and Gender Constituency.