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The Daily TckRace to the Future:www.tcktcktck.org

2 October 2011

Summary of the Current status/situationWell the legal regime or international law for the climate is proving a big discussion. Theonly law we currently have is the Kyoto Protocol the first commitment period ends in

2012. Fortunately it is a flexible document and it can be extended to a second commitment

period when the first period expires. It is the only legally binding deal on offer and so it

makes eminent sense to extend it. South Africa appears to agree and in their statement

yesterday called for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol but went on to link it

to the legal status and form of the future climate change regime. It may be the first time

that the link between the two legal tracks has been made outside of corridor conversation at

the UNFCCC. Of course the EU very publicly made the link when it released its draft

conditions to accept a 2

nd

commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that they will discussformally in their Council meeting on October 10th

.

One element of the Kyoto Protocol is that it has some market mechanisms such as the so-

called clean development mechanism or CDM. You will remember that Japan shamefully

rejected a commitment to the 2nd

period at the start of the climate conference in Cancun

(COP16) last year. But, they seem to want to have their cake and eat It too, as they want to

continue making use of the CDM even while they reject the Kyoto Protocol.

Developing countries have made it clear that continuation of CDM will need a Kyoto

2nd

commitment period and Brazil and Venezuela have made it clear that if you dont support

Kyoto then they will not allow CDM projects. There is also some evidence Japan ispursuing bilateral deals that would not necessarily ascribe to the environmental integrity the

planet requires and would be submitted to scrutiny.

What is happening?Three cheers for New Zealand for stating that they too are willing to support a

2nd

commitment period of the Kyoto Protocolthe conditions under which they accept an

extension are, of course, to be worked out, however their neighbours the Australians could

take some lessons form NZ and come clean on their position on the Kyoto

Protocol. Australia continues to resist such calls while acknowledging that their proposeddomestic legislation will help them move to the higher end of their current modest emissions

reduction targets (currently between 5% and 25% from 1990 levels). It remains a mystery

what could possibly be holding Australia back from a 2nd

commitment period of the KP. The

same goes for Norway who joined Australia in making a submission on a new deal at some

point in the future while remaining fairly silent on the future of the Kyoto Protocol.

Message for the dayWe need a legally binding international law to protect the climate, not vague promises.

http://www.tcktcktck.org/http://www.tcktcktck.org/http://www.tcktcktck.org/http://www.tcktcktck.org/

8/4/2019 Daily Tck 2 - October 2nd

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What you can do today?

The opposition parties, sections of big business and the Murdoch media are doing their best

to see the legislation voted down in Parliament later this month. So show your support for

Australia putting a price on carbon emissions by signing this global petition -http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/

Fill the Fund; support innovative sources of finance in particular a levy on Bunkers. Check

outhttp://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-

en.pdfand support the campaign to fill the fund.

If you want to update your supporters on whats going on in Panama, check out the latest

blogs and videos the Adopt-A-Negotiator team has posted on their website

(www.adoptanegotiator.org)

Other materials:Watch this space for more action materials as the negotiations continue. We are watching the

EU very carefully as, if they do the right thing, could significantly change the dynamic.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.adoptanegotiator.org/http://www.adoptanegotiator.org/http://www.adoptanegotiator.org/http://www.adoptanegotiator.org/http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bn-out-of-the-bunker-050911-en.pdfhttp://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/