Citing the “chaotic” Copenhagen climate talks, Jonathan Pershing, the U.S.’s deputy special envoy for climate change, said the UN must relinquish the central role in future climate negotiations to major nations such as the U.S., China, and India.
Pershing, who participated in the Copenhagen talks, said in a speech in Washington that it was virtually impossible to conduct a serious negotiation with 192 nations present in Copenhagen and called for giving more power in future climate talks to the world’s major CO2 emitters.
Given how poorly the UN ran the Copenhagen summit, Pershing also said “I am not sure that any of us are particularly confident” that the UN should manage a $30 billion fund to help poor countries adapt to climate change.
Pershing’s comments signal a possible realignment in the UN-dominated framework for climate change negotiations that has prevailed for two decades.
Meanwhile, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa have announced that they will meet in New Delhi Jan. 24 in advance of a Jan. 31 deadline for nations to set emissions reduction targets. The four nations are expected to forge a common position on emissions reductions and on climate aid for developing nations.
Article appearing courtesy of Yale Environment 360
photo: Oxan@
