France and the EU from Cancun: We stand for the Kyoto Protocol

On Saturday December 4th, French ambassador for climate change negotiations and newly appointed executive coordinator for the UN conference on sustainable development Brice Lalonde was kind enough to receive us for a meeting. Mr Lalonde stressed how difficult it is to reach a consensus within the framework set by the UN. The system, he says, is characterized by complicated procedures that make dealings long and complicated. The task is indeed daunting: by the end of the week, 194 countries with combined populations of over 4 billion must reach a consensus in Cancun. Ministries arrive in Cancun on Tuesday; drafts have to be ready by then. Moreover, the issues we discuss are most technical and complex. We need to make clear and simple propositions if anything is to be achieved. The entire goal of this conference is to simplify On top of this, the specter of the Convention of Rio (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997) still looms. The problem is that not all countries that signed the Rio Convention ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Countries who back then were still considered as third world countries such as China, India and South Africa are now developing at breakneck speed. This changes the equation. It is generally agreed that the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 makes it all the more urgent to come up quickly with a new, more ambitious agreement. France and the European Union support an extension of the Kyoto Protocol with slight adjustments under the condition that all countries sign the Copenhagen accord. But not every country seems to share this position. As Hideki Minamikawa, chief Japanese negotiator, said Even if discussions about an extension of the Kyoto protocol become a major part of the agenda at Cancun, Japan will not agree to any extension and will accept isolation on this matter. France and the EU have expressed deep concern about the future of climate change negotiations and Mr Lalonde is counting on support from New Zeeland and Australia to make the balance tip in his favor. Despite obvious concerns, Mr Lalonde expressed confidence regarding talks about financing schemes, the Copenhagen green climate fund, REDD+ and verification processes. The French negotiator concluded the meeting by reminding that government and the civil society alike must keep pressuring the US, who did not ratify the Kyoto protocol and are still keeping a low profile in this round of negociation.