Global IssuesCOP20—Lima Climate Conference
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Introduction
December 1 – 14, 2014, Lima, Peru was the venue for the 20th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the 20th Conference of the Parties — or COP 20.
The purpose of this conference was to create a universal agreement on climate change action and begin the process of financing mitigation.
Meeting outcome
The meeting ended with all nations agreeing to cut back greenhouse gas emissions. Known as the Lima Accord, this treaty is not legally binding and countries do not have to specify how much they will cut back, instead agreeing to report their plans back by March 2015.
While for many it sounded like a successful outcome, others were disappointed, such as poor countries struggling to rebuild from current impacts of climate change who were alarmed at the disappearance of loss and damage commitments from the final text which has been part of the discussion for years.
The global climate movement, 350.org, summarized the disappointments and hopeful aspects of the meeting outcome, noting
- The new agreement does not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis
- Some good agreements – but no measures to ensure implementation
- Least developed and vulnerable nations left out in the cold
- Divestment (from fossil fuel reliance) is more important than ever
- Global momentum for real solutions is stronger than ever and will keep on going.
In trying to put a positive spin on the overall disappointment they felt, they concluded, In the end, a global climate treaty is just one tool to combat climate change. Real change is going to continue to come from the grassroots. The UN Climate Talks continue to be a place where the world’s countries comes together to debate this crisis and people are putting in enormous efforts to make sure Paris [the next global meeting] won’t be like Copenhagen
which was full of disappointments despite big promises.
Samantha Smith, Leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, was quite scathing of the meeting outcome saying that political expediency won over scientific urgency
. She also noted that Developed country governments couldn’t even manage to explain how they will deliver the long-promised US$100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020. In a move that seemingly dismissed the plight of the most vulnerable countries, they completely removed any meaningful language about ‘loss and damage’.
Mainstream media reporting
As with almost every previous meeting (with occasional exceptions), mainstream media reporting was very poor given the importance of this global issue. Where the meeting was reported it was generally towards the end, and just sound bite type summaries saying all countries agreed to emission cuts and that this was a major improvement.
While the treaty continued to say it honors the long-standing common but differentiated responsibilities
the mainstream media reporting (as in most years) has typically failed to provide explanation and context of this principle that has been an important part of these talks for over 2 decades; that poor and developing countries should not bear the same responsibilities as the developed ones (because they are not the cause of the anthropogenic carbon emissions over the previous decades that have led to this, which is detailed much more on this site’s page on climate justice).
A hint towards this principle may have been presented as a viewpoint of China or India, given the impression they are being obstacles, rather then explaining this principle in more context.
That was just one of the issues skirted over or omitted from common reporting. Others included issues on financing, technology support for poorer nations, etc. Behind the scenes, for decades, rich countries have stalled on these things or actively avoided trying to share technology etc, which is barely reported.
Every year, this criticism is made of mainstream reporting, so without following these negotiations each year, it can be easy to come away with the impression that this meeting had a positive outcome.
But as this discussion hosted by Democracy Now! shows, there were a number of important issues of contention:
In context: common but differentiated responsibilities
Many years ago all nations agreed that climate change was largely the result of actions from today’s industrialized nations, as carbon dioxide — the main greenhouse gas — stays in the atmosphere for decades. Yet, the poorest would end up suffering the most for a problem they largely did not cause. The approaches to mitigation (emissions reduction) would therefore be different for those groups of countries — the common but differentiated responsibilities principle.
It is in this context that the discussion for loss and damage has come about. And it is something that rich countries are keen to get rid of .
The years of resistance on this issue (and many others) means each time it is discussed again the reactions seem to get even more hostile. Combined with the lack of detailed context in the mainstream media coverage of this aspect, it then becomes easier each time to see culprits as China and India given their enormous greenhouse emissions in recent years, compared to the far greater amount by the industrialized nations over the longer period. See this site’s section on climate justice for more detailed background.
And as this site has said for years on the climate justice page, the rich nations are delaying any meaningful action until it is eventually — and disproportionately — paid for the by the developing nations. New Delhi based Nitin Sethi, associate editor at Business Standard, interviewed in the earlier mentioned video says the same thing, but more frankly:
There is no action that’s going to happen between now and 2020. All of that was to be done by the developed countries. They [rich nations] basically have just said at Lima that
we are not going to do any more than what we’re doing so far, and the burden can shift onto the post-2020 era, where other developing countries have to share it.So, to me, it indicates really negotiation in bad faith.
More information
As the conference is still underway as this page is written, more information will be added here after the event is over.
For more about the issues from other organizations, here are some starting points:
News stories from IPS
Below is a list of stories from Inter Press Service related to the Lima climate conference and its aftermath.
Climate Carnage: Things Can Only Get Worse
- Inter Press Service
ROME, May 29 (IPS) - Please stop repeating all this softened wording, such as climate change, climate-related hazards, climate crisis, or extreme weather events... And just call it what it really is: climate carnage.
Carbon Tax: A Surprisingly Simple Contribution to Fight Climate Change
- Inter Press Service
May 29 (IPS) - Reducing carbon emissions is critical for combating climate change. And one effective way to do this is through the use of carbon taxes.
Climate Change Gets Its Day in Court
- Inter Press Service
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, May 25 (IPS) - As a matter of global justice, the climate crisis has rightfully made its way to the world’s highest court.
On 29 March 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of states on climate change. The initiative was led by the Pacific Island state of Vanuatuone of several at risk of disappearing under rising sea levels. It was co-sponsored by 132 states and actively supported by networks of grassroots youth groups from the Pacific and around the world.
Population Denialism is Reminiscent of Climate Denialism
- Inter Press Service
ST PAUL, Minnesota, USA, May 25 (IPS) - A new study estimates that global heating will push billions of people outside the comfortable range of temperature and weather in which we have evolved.
Why Quality Seeds Are among the Most Valuable Currency in Climate Finance for Africa
- Inter Press Service
VAUD, Switzerland, May 16 (IPS) - At long last, momentum is growing for an overdue rethink of climate finance and development assistance to support countries on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Climate Change Threatens Kenya's Historical Sites in Coastal Region
- Inter Press Service
MOMBASA, May 09 (IPS) - Along coastal Kenya, historical sites and monuments are threatened due to the impacts of climate change—structures along the Indian Ocean are falling to ruin or collapsing into the ocean because of high tides.
Race to Zero in Asia and Pacific: Our Hopes in the Climate Fight
- Inter Press Service
BANGKOK, Thailand, May 09 (IPS) - The latest synthesis report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes for grim reading: Every fraction of a degree of warming comes with escalated threats, from deadly heatwaves to severe hurricanes and droughts, affecting all economies and communities.
Tuberculosis Risk Factors Exacerbated by Climate Change
- Inter Press Service
BRATISLAVA, May 02 (IPS) - While there is no established causal relationship between climate change and tuberculosis (TB), studies have begun to highlight the potential impact its effects could have on the spread of the disease.
Local Innovations Key to Meeting Challenges of the Climate Crisis
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 25 (IPS) - Several years ago, on a visit to a village in rural Zimbabwe, I met a small group of women with a story to share.
Having participated in a UNDP-supported adaptation project – including drought-resistant seeds and education in climate-smart agricultural practices – the women had significantly increased the productiveness of their home gardens.
Human, economic, environmental toll of climate change on the rise: WMO
- UN News
The relentless advance of climate change brought more drought, flooding and heatwaves to communities around the world last year, compounding threats to people’s lives and livelihoods, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.
WMO calls for more investment in integrated weather and climate services
- UN News
The global transition to renewable energy will require greater investment in integrated weather and climate services, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday.
General Assembly votes to seek World Court’s opinion, in quest for ‘bolder’ climate action
- UN News
The UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution on Wednesday.
Climate change making Earth ‘uninhabitable’ Guterres warns
- UN News
Humanity is facing a “difficult truth” the UN chief said just ahead of World Meteorological Day, marked on Friday – the damage already being caused by climate change is “making our planet uninhabitable.”
Climate Financing: World Bank Must Respond
- Inter Press Service
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 21 (IPS) - It’s one of the great injustices of this era that countries contributing negligible amounts to global carbon emissions are now feeling the most harrowing impacts of climate change.
A liveable future for all is possible, if we take urgent climate action: flagship UN report
- UN News
A major UN “report of reports” from the authoritative UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), outlines the many options that can be taken now, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change.
Scaling up Climate-Smart Trade Policies in the Pacific
- Inter Press Service
BANGKOK, Thailand, Mar 17 (IPS) - The impacts of the climate crisis are acutely felt in the Pacific region. In recent years, the region has been hit by devastating climate events, which cause widespread destruction and significant loss of lives and livelihoods across countries.
Announcing new youth advisers, Guterres praises their ‘unrelenting’ drive for climate justice
- UN News
UN Secretary-General António Guterresthis week announced the names of seven young climate leaders selected to serve on his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
BPs Shift 'Back to Petroleum' Prods Consideration of a Climate Oil Price Cap
- Inter Press Service
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 13 (IPS) - BP, the oil company that previously brought us “Beyond Petroleum” and more recently robust corporate climate goals, has announced a return in emphasis to its traditional business of producing oil. Drawn by the inescapable appeal of oil’s latest high profits, has BP rebranded itself as “Back to Petroleum?”
Sticking to ‘cold, hard’ climate facts can end global warming: Guterres
- UN News
World leaders need to listen to and act on solid scientific guidance to urgently reduce global warming, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message at the opening of the new session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Monday.
Climate Displacement & Migration in South East Asia
- Inter Press Service
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb 28 (IPS) - Global warming and climate breakdown are going to be disruptive to say the least. Humanity’s insistence on unsustainable development and rising greenhouse gas emissions will make the settlements of millions of people increasingly prone to extreme weather events and full-blown natural disasters.
World’s Largest Oil Corporation to Lead Climate Change Talks in 2023
- Inter Press Service
QUITO, Ecuador / LA PAZ, Bolivia, Feb 27 (IPS) - The Chief Executive of the twelfth largest oil producer - Sultan Al Jaber of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) - has been appointed as president of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) COP28the biggest climate change conference that will take place in November, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
From the Field: Weathering climate change in Sudan
- UN News
Women in arid parts of rural Sudan, where water is becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change, are learning techniques to adapt to new weather patterns which will build their resilience for the future, thanks to support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Amid ‘spy balloon’ controversy, WMO highlights key role of weather balloons in climate monitoring
- UN News
Weather balloons play an important part of a vast, intricate global observation system, providing vital information for climate monitoring and forecasters, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.
World Leaders, Private Sector Urged to Establish an International Green Bank to Win Climate Change Battle
- Inter Press Service
NAIROBI, Feb 15 (IPS) - As the effects of climate change escalate and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts become more frequent and severe, threatening lives and livelihoods, humanity is losing the climate battle.
Climate change: WMO unveils plans for sustainable monitoring of greenhouse gases
- UN News
A UN-led plan to tackle climate change by radically improving the way heat-trapping atmospheric pollutants are measured all over the planet, is being given serious consideration by governments and the international scientific community, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday.
Climate crisis and migration: Greta Thunberg supports IOM over ‘life and death’ issue
- UN News
The head of the UN migration agency IOM, and leading climate justice activist, Greta Thunberg, called on Friday for immediate action to help tackle the impacts of climate change on those forced to flee their homes, or leaving in search of a better life.
The Climate Conversations
- Inter Press Service
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jan 18 (IPS) - Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. However, negotiating a solution has been challenging due to several factors. One of the main reasons that recent COP Climate summits and other international climate talks have not been able to resolve climate change is that there is a lack of consensus among countries on how to address the issue.
Developed countries, which have historically been the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, are often unwilling to take on significant emissions reductions or to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change.
Conflicts, Climate Change Threaten Sprouting of Africas Great Green Wall
- Inter Press Service
BULAWAYO, Jan 06 (IPS) - Escalating conflict and climate change threaten the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI), an ambitious land restoration project across Africa.
2022 Year in Review: Amid global turmoil, UN doggedly pursues international climate agreements
- UN News
Despite strong evidence that human activity played a role in catastrophic weather events, and the emergence of a fuel crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise. Nevertheless, the UN kept the climate emergency high on the international agenda, reaching major agreements on financing and biodiversity.
Climate action, one recipe at a time
- UN News
Renowned chefs such as UN World Food Programme (WFP) Goodwill Ambassador Chef Manal Al Alem, and Chef José Andres, as well as indigenous home cooks and farmers from around the world, have contributed to a new cookbook that includes recipes that are delicious and climate friendly.
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