As the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, begins in Durban, South Africa, with over 15,000 participants and observers convened to participate and witness the climate talks which promise to be on thorny issues, there is sure to be an inter-bashing of sorts for the different interests representedthe European Union against the United States; the developing nations against the industrialised ones; the emerging Asian world powers against the West; and the civil societies against them all. But irrespective of the expected hullaballoo, what the ordinary man in the street wants to know is how this much-hyped mother of necessity known as the COP shall add value to his already harried life.It is a mother of necessity because ordinarily, all nations would not come together for environmental purpose if not for the realisation that no one country, no matter how developed, can fight the emerging menace of climate change alone. It is a global phenomenon. Today, Thailand is still struggling to come to grips with the colossal damage done to the nation by a widespread flooding that almost crippled its economy; the Horn of Africa is experiencing an apocalyptic drought of never-seen-before proportion; very many nations, including the United States and China, are daily pummelled by typhoons, earthquakes, hurricanes, flash floods and various other natural disasters which are unequivocally blamed on climate change. For the second time, and significantly so, the COP is hosted in Africa, one of the continents that shall experience the worst effect of climate change. The first time was in Kenya, in 2006.On this note, it is instructive to state the position of Nigeria on the Climate Change Summit, because it is the developing nation expected to push the position of Africa and other developing nations. Nigerias stand is that it will remain part of the Clean Development Mechanism in efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, but wants developed countries to mitigate climate change by scaling up emission reduction to keep average global increase in temperature at 1.5 Celsius. Nigeria will support the establishment of an international-level committee to coordinate how a framework for adaptation is implemented; and wants national and regional centres set up and strengthened to ensure they are sustainable in implementing an action programme for adaptation in Africa. On the climate fund, it calls for financial supports to especially developing nations to be accessible, direct and provided through an enhanced financial architecture under the care of the COP Secretariat. Curiously, the country was reported absent as the event got underway on Wednesday due to "some hitches".On a continental level, African Unions Chief Negotiator is the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and the Conference of African Heads of State and Government has said that a legally binding second period of commitments for the developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol must be the central deliverable for COP 17. This means that Africa is still harping on the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol with emphasis on how it shall benefit the continent, considering the global imbalance between the major polluting countries and the victims found mostly in Africa, which is properly addressed in the Kyoto Protocol if adhered to in full. Unfortunately, there seems to be a divided house over the continued implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, thereby effectively removing the killing power of the Protocol and the COP, which is aimed at achieving the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, while helping less privileged nations with finance and technology in their fight against climate change.Interestingly, key on the agenda for COP 17 is the fast-start finance established in Copenhagen, Denmark during the 15th edition of the COP by some developed countries agreeing to have $30bn fast-start finance under Voluntary Emissions Reduction between 2009 and 2012 and to provide $100bn annually to developing countries starting from 2020 for climate change. The trouble spot is that some developed countries are prevaricating on the issue of the climate fund, therefore making it difficult for developing nations to assess it. This is not far from the truth that Europe is currently going through a difficult financial crisis, which threatens the integrity of the Eurozone, thereby forcing some committed parties to escape responsibility through various loopholes established through COP negotiations. Meanwhile, the West is generally calling for the discarding of the Kyoto Protocol for a new legally binding treaty, while Africa is insisting on the continuation of the second phase of the Protocol.Considering the political horse-trading that went on in the last COP in Cancun, Mexico, which rendered it inconclusive, it can be seen that the process is a mixture of hypocrisy and commitment. The US has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol because it feels that it will put a restraining leash on its industrial expansion while allowing economies like China to grow in leaps. Yet, over the last few conferences, in conjunction with its allies, the US has, ironically, mobilised and articulated stringent criteria for developing countries, which are the most vulnerable, to have access to necessary funds needed to adapt to the impact of climate change. Among such criteria was the request that developing countries take up commitment that would reduce their green house gases emission levels. On the other hand, the European countries, that feel cheated, are calling for a new legally binding agreement which shall herd America in, while also putting commensurate carbon caps on the fast industrialising BRIC nationsBrazil, India, China and South Africa.Nevertheless, I believe that the best approach is informed understanding and a global appreciation of the issue of climate change as a human tragedy and not a national or regional bargaining chip. Considered as a humanitarian issue, integrity, sincerity and underlying human brotherliness shall come to play as is the case in charity projects. Therefore, I suggest that the African proverbial problem-solving method is applied here: let the small man fetch small firewood, and the big man, big firewood. For example, the US should forget about national interest and key into the underpinning philosophy that inspired the COP in the first place: that of the survival of the globe, and the human race for that matter. On the same hand, the developing nations should quit the blame game and take definite, perceptible measures to stop carbon emissions.The watchword should be emissions cuts, at all levels. The European Emission Trading Scheme, which is the worlds largest carbon trading system, and other emissions trading schemes, are veritable clearing houses for poisonous carbon and climate wealth, and should not be terminated even after the 2008-2012 compliance period. For the common man, the least that can be done is to plant a tree, which is the first defence line against climate change. For the government, it is to institute an enabling legislative framework for eco-friendly business and lifestyle to flourish. The Nigerian government claims to push programmes targeting climate change through renewable energy, rural solar electrification, waste-to-energy, energy-efficient housing and clean energy programmes; but a casual observation shall clearly indicate that such affirmations are political statements just meant to serve the purpose of telling the media in a hastily prepared pre-COP 17 press conference that the government is on top of the situation of global relevance as far as climate change is concerned. This must change as the realities of climate change are too dire to be overlooked.Odogwu, an environmental activist, wrote in from Emab Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja. He can be reached on gregodogwu@yahoo.com or 08063601665
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