So, another climate conference is over and still we are no closer to achieving a successful and viable framework for reducing global carbon emissions. Durban seeked to succeed where Cancun, Kyoto and every other climate convention had failed. Apparently they have drawn up a legally binding deal which will enforce the reduction of carbon emissions in both developed and developing countries, however the deal still has to be agreed and wont come into effect until at least 2020. The fine details of the deal, for example by how much each country has to cut its emissions, has not yet been decided…..
For the first time ever, China has agreed to be legally binded into cutting its carbon emissions, if this is successful then the total global emissions will be significantly reduced. However with so few details the deal is unlikely to succeed. One of the largest outcomes of the conference was that Canada withdrew from the only legal treaty committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions- The Kyoto protocol. The reasons for their withdrawal are thought to be that they are way off meeting their emissions targets, as in fact their emissions have actually risen. In order to rectify this they would have to pay billions of dollars in carbon credits yet there would be no effect on the environment. I think this shows that these legally binding deals are always going to have problems and no one will ever truly agree. Carbon credits do little to actually help the environment as rich countries will just by credits and continue to pollute. The fact that countries can pull out if they think they won’t meet their targets makes a mockery of the whole thing.
Will we ever agree on how to combat climate change? For the health of our oceans I hope so, but somehow I very much doubt it.
