COP15: Copenhagen Accord adopted, but not by all

19 December, 12.30 hours: Although discussions are still going on, the Copenhagen Accord will most likely be approved by most of the 193 countries that are part of the COP15. No unanimous approval has been achieved, but the UN Conference of Parties officially ‘take note’ of the Accord. Countries will be able to sign up in a ‘chapeau’.

At the plenary session that continued all morning from about 4 o’clock this morning (and is still going on), some countries strongly opposed the accord. The main reason for the opposition for instance from Bolivia and Venezuela was the lack of transparency, because the proposal was prepared by a small number of countries.

Tuvalu, the small island in the Pacific, noted that the 2 degrees target in the Accord is not enough. The association of small islands has strongly advocated a 1.5 degrees maximum temperature rise because 2 degrees will not save these islands. Although the Accord does not exclude the possibility of a tougher target, it is not explicitly mentioned.

Some implications

Now the Copenhagen Accord will be almost global, work can continue within the UN framework to work out final decisions along two lines: the Kyoto Protocol for the so-called Annex I countries, and the Long-term Cooperation Agreement. Because UN work needs unanimous decisions, it is not yet clear where the Accord fits into the UN process, with all its official procedures i.e. regarding verification, carbon credits and so on.

According to Niklas Höhne, climate negotiations specialist with Ecofys who has been attending the COP15 for two weeks, it is possible that the Accord will stay outside of the official UN process. “It is possible, and it will most likely cover more than 90% of all global emissions. But it puts the UN process at stake.”

Höhne is not satisfied with the outcome, but he is realistic. “The Copenhagen Accord is not the best accord I can imagine. I think the most important opportunity it misses is a short-term ambition, which will be needed to achieve the two degrees targets. It is probably the best outcome from this very complicated process with delegations, ministers and Heads of State. However, a legally binding treaty is absolutely necessary. That will take another year of hard work.”

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