International
Without ‘additionality’ of climate funds, Copenhagen adds up to nothing
As world leaders fly home from the climate change summit, the agreement reached in Copenhagen could add up to nothing unless the funding offered is not double counted from existing aid promises.
Late last night an agreement was brokered by the US, China, South Africa, India and Brazil. This included $10bn a year in so called ‘fast track’ financing for the next 3 years and $100bn a year by 2020 for poor countries to cope with climate change. But currently these sums will largely be subtracted from promised resources to help these same countries fight poverty.
ONE has been campaigning hard against this dangerous double counting, which undermines both sustainable international development and a good global deal on climate change. Last week we handed over a petition from more than 80,000 ONE members to the Danish government, as chair of the summit, and the US delegation. We called on them to ensure that new funding is additional to existing and promised aid flows and that development promises are kept in full.
Here’s what ONE’s Executive Director Jamie Drummond had to say on the agreement that was reached last night:
“Climate change is putting additional stress on poor countries – which is why they need additional funds to cope with it – on top of existing and promised aid levels.
Promises of aid made by the G8 in Gleneagles in 2005 must not be lost in Copenhagen. Without a clear commitment that these climate funds are additional, the dollar amounts are next to meaningless.
This debate over ‘additionality’ might seem arcane, but within the details lie billions of dollars – and very real impacts on millions of lives. Without this additionality, Copenhagen adds up to nothing.
It is not clear how a cap on 2 degrees will be achieved, but it is very clear that much more can and must be done, including harnessing the potential of African and other developing countries to be renewable energy hubs and help capture carbon through growing trees.”
ONE supports the African proposal for an interim target of US$50bn by 2015 on top of existing and promised aid to help the poorest countries – many of them in Africa – with pressing adaptation needs. The “Copenhagen Accord” mentions a High Level Panel to assess how alternative sources of funding can contribute to raising genuinely additional funds.
This urgent High Level Task Force should be convened immediately to look into alternative sources of climate finance to complement additional public funding from rich countries. These sources could include: revenue from aviation and shipping, international auctioning of emissions allowances, a financial transactions tax and the proposal to use the IMF’s own currency, known as Special Drawing Rights. The need for accountability and transparency for these new funds is also paramount.
With the agreement in Copenhagen weaker than we hoped, we now know we have much more work ahead of us.
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The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
21/12/2009 at 5:50 pm
Don’t let the pover countries pay our overcome!!!
21/12/2009 at 6:10 pm
The fight for justice continues.
21/12/2009 at 6:11 pm
Nuclear fusion with aid of a Tokamak or lasers will be our solution!!!!!
21/12/2009 at 6:14 pm
now
21/12/2009 at 6:22 pm
Brokenhagen Climate Summit 2009
US & Britain has been telling us for long time that they will be fighting for a strong and fair agreement, but once again the US flew to Copenhagen and twisted the arm of some countries into a deal that has not got the full participation of the majority of the world countries.
This new deal, if you want to call it that, has let us down in terms of sufficiency in scientific terms and in terms of what it means for the poorest countries.
The rich countries have acted in a way which was against the spirit of the previous 2 years of negotiations.
There was a clear road map setting up in how rich countries would reduce their emissions through the Kyoto Protocol, there was a road map how US would come on board with equivalent measures & how developing countries were about to take action.
The deal is plain & simple a fraud agreement
21/12/2009 at 6:35 pm
Keep the pressure on, ONE. Stay inspired…
21/12/2009 at 6:38 pm
Is necessary for african countries to keep control about their money. Informational structure (market access, bancar access, publicity, ..) is building up, so I hope a good way next year.
21/12/2009 at 6:49 pm
Obama, Prix Nobel de la Paix, aurait dû être davantage un citoyen du Monde qu’un simple américain. Il pouvait imposer ses vues aux autres puissances. Il a pourtant des enfants…
C’est à Nous, citoyens anonymes du monde entier, sans distinction particulière, de continuer à faire pression sur les puissants de ce monde et de lutter contre les lobbies. Mais il faudra beaucoup de temps et le temps manque….
21/12/2009 at 6:50 pm
Obama was realy a huge disappointment. We cannot give up…
21/12/2009 at 6:51 pm
May God blessed you!
Let there be one God, one Law, one Union, and one will of the people.
21/12/2009 at 6:52 pm
the facts are in.. factory farming is the biggest contributer to global warming.. and the pollution of the planet.. the first world’s eating and living habits are depleting this planet.. humanity has become the werewolf and vampire of life.. stop placing the responsibility on the politicians who are hand in hand with the corporations… each person has to wake up and take responsibility for how they are the cause of the destruction of life.. unbridled consumption is leading t the depletion of life.. humanity is going to go the way of the dinosaurs if we do not change now..
21/12/2009 at 6:54 pm
W e are behind you and will give the best we can to keep the pressure on. God will bless your efforts.
21/12/2009 at 7:07 pm
we can only do what we can, but each one of us at every level can make a difference, not always with money but ideas and deverses possibilities.
but small or not it doesn’t matter.
changing your way of life reducing the cost of your own life reducing your expences is a start. and if you all drop your car you can make the biggest difference ever think of it. just stop driving.
Oneric
21/12/2009 at 7:10 pm
NOW NOW NOW…
21/12/2009 at 7:16 pm
Le “Proverbe Cri” des Indiens du Canada nous dit: “Quand le dernier arbre sera abattu, la dernière rivière empoisonnée, le dernier poisson pêché, alors vous découvrirez que l’argent ne se mange pas!” Je souhaite que nous ne fassions plus les même erreurs, car en ce sens l’Homme me fait vraiment peur. Il est la seule espèce vivante à avoir la triste capacité de s’auto-détruire.J’espère que nous n’en arriverons pas à ce moment précis, où messieurs les politiciens et tous ceux qui n’ont que faire de la Terre, se retrouveront les derniers cons qui joueront ici bas leur ultime requiem, en lançant leur dernier cri…! Allez, il est grand temps d’un peu de sagesse et d’humilité, de lâcher la possession pour enfin nous relier, en donnant sens en conscience vers l’évidence…!
21/12/2009 at 7:29 pm
Non lasciamo morire il Mondo, ma tutti nel nostro piccolo possiamo fare qualcosa.
E’ dai piccoli gesti che cominciano le grandi cose.
21/12/2009 at 7:30 pm
We also see the whole climate change summit as a failure with weak agreements and foggy promises for the future.
Let´s keep the pressure on the rich countries and especially on their/our leaders and governments. As I can see here in Germany our government seems to be more interested in fulfilling the lobbyist´s and companie´s will that the need and demands of the people, inside Germany and worldwide.
21/12/2009 at 7:32 pm
Now we just have to be “ONE” together, pour le meilleur…!
21/12/2009 at 7:43 pm
It is a shame that people cannot contribute to improving the plight of many in this world and instead succumb to being scammed by this global warming scheme of lies.The advocates are the ones getting rich while you fall under their spell. Hitler did this to the people too. All this does is put more money into countries that abuse their own citizens e.g. Africa , China., and does nothing to improve the impoverished nations or the non-existant Global Warming. Wake up people – you are being taken advantage of by the best.
21/12/2009 at 8:18 pm
Quite a shame indeed. We just got to keep moving foward to a better future for all, and pressure the ones who have the actual means to do so.
21/12/2009 at 8:21 pm
It’s a nothing deal because it is not binding and cannot be supported in international law. No reductions were set. I have no confidence in these “world leaders” because they still have a mindset that says they’re in this for themselves, and all other nations can take the long jump off the skyscraper. The problem with that mindset is that, if they persist, ALL nations will take that long jump. I have no hope that 2010′s Mexico conference will succeed where this one failed, because the global warming situation will be worse, not better, than it is now. This terrible “deal” proves, once again, that Planet Earth badly needs an altruistic, global government, one with TEETH! Only such an authority can force nations “to do the right thing.” I know, the skeptics will snub their noses at that idea, but it’s the only idea that can work on a global basis. Boy, oh boy, I sure feel bad for the generations to come.
21/12/2009 at 8:23 pm
So… the poorest of the earth are going to dip into their paltry development grants to bail out the ecosystem, and the toxic elite carry on as usual? BRILLIANT!
Merry Freaking Christmas to International Capitalism!
21/12/2009 at 8:36 pm
We know it’s not an easy fight, we can not give up, we must unite with more strength to fight those who resist the view that is at the limit of time to save this planet.
Strength, we are together.
21/12/2009 at 8:49 pm
I cannot understand that the World must wait until the axe falls on our necks before reacting to an emergency, and this is an EMERGENCY for all nations, rich and poor.
21/12/2009 at 9:05 pm
Yes, unfortunately many people wait until it´s 5 to 12.
21/12/2009 at 9:33 pm
it would be great if we could spend the same amount of energy and resources on fighting agaisnt poverty and climate change as we do on war. maybe if we did that then there would not be any need for war in the first place. what you do makes a difference, and it is up to you what kind of a difference you make. what you do to another you do to yourself and by destroying nature and our climate we are destroying ourselves. i believe that we can do it if we really want to.
21/12/2009 at 9:48 pm
Stephen, if less weapons, tanks etc were sold, there would be a lot more money for other aims like the fight against poverty. Unfortunately weapon selling is one of the biggest businesses, beside drug traffic.
21/12/2009 at 10:04 pm
I trust in supporting campaings like this but kinda get lost with the politics bit. However keep up the good work one.org and everyone keep supporting one.org.
21/12/2009 at 11:18 pm
If it is to be, it is up to us! Unless we, common pedestrians, continue to put pressure, the so called world leaders will do nothing to change for the best. Let’s continue. Let’s protest. Le’t them hear. Let them listen.
We want, we need a safe home; that is, a safe, and better world for our children and grandchildren. It’s now or never. Act now. Now.
21/12/2009 at 11:22 pm
NULLITY results….. SHAME!…..
21/12/2009 at 11:51 pm
Copenhagen was just a big farce. What else did you expect from a bunch of people arriving in their own planes and asking for limousines (they rented from countries around Denmark, because their asses can’t sit in any car, or God forbid -walk… Just a waste of money, because most of them just couldn’t care less. MONEY is their God.
Elvira
22/12/2009 at 1:38 am
next year? it´s getting late… we only have ourselves to blame for our future, but what about the future of our kids?
22/12/2009 at 4:43 am
Our natural environment has contaminated by powers of economics word. They will not save our earth by the cast of their fund. NOW it is the important question: How we make a conversation to reach this GOAL?
22/12/2009 at 5:13 am
Developing countries or developed countries…all of us are risponsible to take care of our environment. I just can’t believe that how much time,money and other resources had been waste during this Copenhagen “thing” and specially how my heart was broke when I find out these leaders are just so afraid of loosing a couple of millions of dollars instead of taking care of our home…MY HOME, THE EARTH!!!
I’m really sad about this all situation and specially about the unshame corruption against the environment.
Thanks ONE and I encourage you to KEEP GOING THROUGH THE SOLUTIONS & NOT STAY IN THE PROBLEM like them.
22/12/2009 at 5:55 am
It is a sad day for those who wished for a quick answer to the call for justice for the people of Africa…….. it seems it will be in gods time not our time that Africa and the world will see justice in their lives and the climate cooled
22/12/2009 at 6:34 am
Very good Eloise. Kind regards
22/12/2009 at 7:29 am
Great work ONE and the 80,000 signers!
What’s best really for dealing with climate change? I don’t know really.
I do know that the “dirty” double accounting makes everything promised before and now a farse in effect. The needs of so many in the economically developing world (as well as in the so called developed world) are great and immediate. And, if climate change will really exacterbate the problems already present well we all need to take responsability.
Using the US as a scapegoat though doesn’t seem quite right. China, India, Brazil, Russia, Japan, Australia and the EU seem to be NOT stepping forward and taking the plunge BUT to blame Obama and the US seems to be in vogue. I mean if EVERYBODY BUT the US was “on board”, then the US would have to eventually accept a common agreement, but since there isn’t one, well it sure seems like escapism to blame the US and to continue to act the same as before.
We need to start taking responsability – EVERYBODY – based on our capacities and consumption of resources!!!
22/12/2009 at 9:14 am
Would be great to see 800,000 or 8 million or 80 million people signing a petition for that issue next time.
I have a network of friends worldwide, quite a number of them has joined ONE. The more we are, the more we can move.
22/12/2009 at 10:18 am
‘What happened in Copenhagen?’
…. the ultimate consecration of greed, blindness and sheer irresponsibility.
Mother Earth deserves better!
Regards.
22/12/2009 at 11:05 am
Copenhagen was a triumph of vested interests and bureaucracy over compassion and sense. How do we engage our leaders in a commitment to agree what is required to address climate change and the will to take the actions to achieve this funded according to abilty to pay?
22/12/2009 at 11:28 am
more greese to your elbow….you are the voıce of the poor people especıally ın afrıca
22/12/2009 at 11:33 am
Brian, maybe we should vote for other leaders and governments in the next elections in our countries. For teh actual ones seem to be the marionettes of profit and capital. At least in germany I can see that. They do what the big companies want them to do.
22/12/2009 at 2:28 pm
Brokenhagen Climate Summit 2009
nobody gives a f..k about the people or global warming
22/12/2009 at 3:38 pm
We will reap what we sow, let the developing countries also pull their socks up, they are culprits of climate change too. Stop blaming the developed countries for every ills of the world. Let us all give up good thing of life in the developed countries, and live like they do in the developing countries. Do you think you could do that?
Judy Orange ,agree with you .
22/12/2009 at 4:54 pm
It’s a win-win long term. Where to live when the planet is dead?.Perhaps the money will buy you a planet for inhabit?. Fight for a healthy world. Come on is Late ¡.
22/12/2009 at 6:07 pm
The words we write here should be written to our political and economical leaders.
It would be nice to see some discussion here about what more we can do .
22/12/2009 at 8:45 pm
The group of “genuinely willing countries” should continue and all of us should name and shame those other governments. In the meantime we should do our utmost to get our own act together, with better house insulation,more solar panels, less car and airplane miles, less meat consumption and all those other things each of us can and should do. And then we should vote for politicians who are really serious about this issue, and by so doing teach the other politicians a few lessons about how to tackle big and long term problems such as this. They obviously cannot do it alone and need the cooperation of entrepreneurs, scientists, administrators and active citizens.
22/12/2009 at 10:02 pm
I agree with you, Fer!
By the way, I think that referring to human sense, family sense and protecting nature the “developing ” countries are more developed than the industrialized countries. I have lived in both , in rich and in poor countries. I found more human sense in poorer countries in the people. Although I don´t like to generalize here, I also found great people in the rich countries.
22/12/2009 at 11:58 pm
i agree with you!!
m0ther Earth deserves better!
23/12/2009 at 2:41 am
We The People Will Allways Have The Power.
The Power To Make The Change Despite Our Governments
The Power To Drive a Smaller Car
The Power To Eat Vegetables instead of Meat
The Power To Save Energy
And The Power To Buy Conciencely (Fair-Trade)
And We Will Allways have the Government We Deserve
Happy Hollidays……….LOVE