UNFCCC Meet - Challenges Ahead

What is the issue?

• Discussions on the Paris Agreement are expected to be the prime agenda in the upcoming UNFCCC's Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany.
• However, a range of challenges lies ahead for the countries in arriving at a consensus in this regard.

What are the challenges ahead?

• Renewed target - At the Paris COP, countries agreed to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C, half a degree lesser than the previous 2°C target.
• However, scientists have highlighted that emissions were moving at a pace of leading to a 4°C warmer earth.
• Therefore, limiting warming to less than 1.5°C demands a renewed understanding of the policies and actions.
• The challenge lies ahead in ensuring more strong pledges for 2030, and deepening mitigation targets.
• However, current conditions in global discussions and national targets, do not suggest that emissions could drop precipitously.
• NDC - Reports suggest that Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), when added up, fall short of attaining even the 2°C target.
• Further, NDCs require financial and technological support from rich countries for their full implementation.
• Given the ongoing global developments, finance and technology transfer to developing countries from rich nations seems not very optimistic.
• US withdrawal - This will be the first COP after the US pulled out of the Paris Agreement.
• There is a speculation that this would alter the stance of Europe, Australia and other large countries with regard to the Paris deal.
• Given this and the political conditions prevalent today, a renegotiation of the PA is also not a viable option.

What is the way forward?

• Adaptation is increasingly becoming central to efforts on mitigating the climate change impacts.
• A greater readiness on the part of all nations is required to take forward the goals on mitigation.
• Countries have to compromise on their erstwhile hard positions, to make progress in reducing emissions and building climate resilience.

Source: The Hindu