Durban Platform: good for politicians, bad for the poor

(11.12.2011) Welthungerhilfe welcomes the fact that the climate summit in Durban did not lead to a step backwards in international negotiations.

Michael Kühn, Senior Advisor for Climate Change at Welthungerhilfe, accompanied the climate summit in Durban as an observer.

Michael Kühn: "From a political point of view Durban may have been successful, because climate diplomacy has not failed completely. However, many critical questions remain outstanding once again, such as if future agreements will be legally binding or the questions of concrete reduction targets and timing."

He added that although the result of wanting to continue the Kyoto Protocol with a second commitment period was progress, this also only affects 15 per cent of worldwide CO2 emissions.

Overall the whole process had been delayed once again. Michael Kühn: "What has been planned as reduction targets up to now is too little by a long way and will still result in global warming of 3-4 degrees by 2100. This is definitely bad news for the developing countries of the South."

According to Kuhn one small success of the summit was setting up the international climate fund, because poorly developed countries urgently needed support in climate protection and in adjusting to the consequences of climate change. Michael Kühn: "Now it must be quickly established in a binding form that this pot is quickly filled with fresh money and that it starts work as soon as possible."

Developing countries had lined up with the European Union in Durban, now in return Europe had to make sufficient funds available quickly so that poor countries in the world community could better adjust to the consequences of global climate change, he continued.  

For Welthungerhilfe a signal is going out from Durban that there will be an even stronger focus on adjusting to climate change in its work in its project countries. This is the only way sustainable food security can be achieved.