Whereas merely no one is expecting ‘the agreement’ any longer from Cancun, it seems like negotiations are progressing towards selected intermediate steps. Among them are a ‘Global Climate Fund’ and National Adaptation and Mitigation Action plans (NAMAs). This would at least enable developing and developed countries to get into further action to address the issue of climate change. Here in Cancun it was stressed again by President Calderón that the world is expecting “a clear response to climate change that we cannot fail to give.”
Interestingly Mrs. Figueres, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary included in her opening speech on Tuesday at the Moon Palace that the world will for sure monitor progress on any commitments or actions that would be agreed. This appears to be a necessity to demonstrate sincere actions and results, as was also pointed out by other parties who talked about transparency as the key to success.
The ongoing urgency messages both the world and nature have given (2010 has sent some other wake-up calls such as floods and heatwaves), haven’t so far resulted in any agreement – key issues seem to be postponed to the next COP in Durban, South Africa. Trust therefore is not a natural given for the Parties’ commitments and actions. And thus transparency is key to build trust – between the Parties and with the world.
The draft text that has been prepared by the Ad-Hoc Working Group includes mechanisms to deliver on transparency, including proper Reporting and Verification. Would that be part of the final agreed text on Friday, we could foresee building standards for such reporting and verification that will allow stakeholders to assess actual progress – both in terms of actions and results.
A similar mechanism should apply to the ‘Global Climate Fund’. The World Bank, who will expectedly be invited to become the Trustee for this fund, will have to ensure from the start that the financial flows are absolutely transparent and trustworthy. Otherwise the debate would possibly diverge instead of converge towards a final agreement – and this is not what the world can afford.