With minutes and not hours or days left for COP15 (which was supposed to conclude today), a “Copenhagen Accord” has surfaced. A major feature is that it removes the deadline of 2010 for a legally binding agreement. However, according to a draft published by The Washington Post, the Copenhagen Accord would call for a reassessment by 2016 for “strengthening the long term goal to limit the increase of long term global average temperature to 1.5 degrees.” Scientist have called to prevent a 2 Celcius rise in temperatures.
But why an “Accord” versus a Protocol? Visit our Green Detectives timeline and UNFCCC and you’ll see when the rules for the Kyoto Protocol were adopted in 2001, they became known as the “Marrakesh Accords.” Backing up still further, the UNFCCC was established in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to encourage the world to reduce GHGs. And the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated in 1997, committing ratifying countries to 5.2% GHG emissions reductions over 1990 levels. The US signed the Kyoto Protocol but the Senate never ratified it. Now, fast forward to Copenhagen. US signs an accord? And what will be the specifics of what is expected to be a very slim agreement document? The US House passed climate legislation in June this year, but what will the Senate do with it’s climate bill? Deja-vu?
Air Force One just left Copenhagen after an agreement was had at COP15. Details of final agreement to come.