In January, the team of EUROCLIMA asked the Focal Points to send their impressions of the Conference of the Parties in Durban, the COP17, for this e-Newsletter. A number of the Focal Points and their teams submitted their responses to four specific questions sent to them. Their reflections are important in presenting the view from some of the government offices linked to the fight against climate change, specifically about what the “Durban Package” would mean for their countries and for the Latin American region in general. These reflections do not necessarily represent the position of each government with respect to the results in Durban, but they do provide an important inside perspective.

In general, there is agreement that significant progress has been made in implementing the COP16 Cancun agreements, but at the same time there is disillusionment with regard to other aspects: the pace of progress, the absence of commitments on the part of some important countries with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, lack of clarity (“vagueness” in some aspects) and uncertainty about the operational implementation of the agreements. There is disillusion about the lack of agreement with respect to the subject of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), and doubts with respect to the long-term financing of the Green Climate Fund. For some countries the amount, availability, flexibility and transparency of the resources in these funds is of particular concern; but at least there is greater clarity about the institutional architecture and an express willingness to get the Green Climate
Fund up and running.

The fact that the countries of South and Central America are in general not among the priority targets of the Fund means that for some the subject of its transparency and management is key, as funding is necessary and will be vital in improving the resilience of these countries to climate change. For the same reason, even though many of these countries have relatively low levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the Adaptation Committee and the mechanisms of Technology Transfer are considered of great importance. It is to be hoped that between 2012 and 2015 there will be significant progress in implementing the agreements in this respect, although it is recognised that a new difficult phase of negotiations begins now within the framework of the Durban Platform towards a binding legal instrument to be implemented starting in 2020.

The extension of the Kyoto Protocol starting in January 2013 is considered important. However, it has still not met expectations because some important Parties are missing. This will seriously reduce its potential effect on mitigating global warming, as will the lack of definition with respect to the monitoring period. The Clean Development Mechanism is therefore considered key for a number of countries in their progress towards mitigating climate change.

The so-called “Durban Package” is generally seen as a great step forward. It is a holistic approach to the problems, although more ambitious progress is still required on the implementation of the Cancun agreements if they are to be applied in the shortest possible time.

To sum up, although the conclusions of the 17th Conference of the Parties held in Durban generate encouraging expectations for the countries of Latin America, it cannot be denied that there is some scepticism and concern focusing on the lack of commitments on the part of a number of developed countries, and on the future funding of actions that are necessary to strengthen the resilience of countries in the region with respect to climate change.

On asking the participating countries of EUROCLIMA what the consequence of Durban would be for the region as a whole, the answers stressed effects that were similar to those for the individual country. However, they also highlighted the great contrasts between the countries in the region with respect to emissions and capacities for response. The Durban Package is considered positive for the region; for a number of countries, it is above all positive in terms of adaptation, technology transfer and capacity strengthening. Some show concern about the level of the region’s representation in upcoming decision-making processes dealing with preparation, negotiation and implementation.

In the next section we present the detailed reflections of seven EUROCLIMA participants about what Durban means to each country with respect to the subjects indicated.