Nations Unable to Resolve Deadlock on Upcoming UN Climate Change Assessment
Nations failed to reach an agreement on the timing of the UN’s upcoming climate change assessment by the IPCC during a meeting in China. While developed and vulnerable nations sought a faster timeline to inform policy, opposing views from major polluters led to a lack of consensus. The absence of US representatives loomed over discussions, highlighting the urgency for timely climate action as pronounced by UN officials.
Nations were unable to resolve a standoff regarding the timing of the next significant assessment of climate change science from the United Nations during a lengthy meeting in Hangzhou, China, which was notably attended without US representation. The discussion centered on whether the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) would complete its forthcoming three-part assessment before the UN’s 2028 “stocktake” regarding the global response to climate change.
Wealthy nations and climate-affected developing countries advocated for a quicker timetable, asserting that timely reports would ensure countries are aligned with the latest scientific insights. However, this proposal faced opposition from some oil-producing countries and major polluters, including India and China. As a result, the discussions concluded without a fixed deadline for the reports, which was viewed as a significant setback.
Zhe Yao, a global policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia, expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating that the deadlock only benefits those who delay climate action while vulnerable nations require immediate responses. “It is a bitter disappointment every time when division leads to a decision being postponed or kicked down the road,” Mr. Yao remarked.
The absence of US representatives, influenced by former President Donald Trump’s actions to retract previous climate commitments, cast a shadow over the meeting outcomes. Leading climate scientist Johan Rockstrom from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research noted that the US’s exclusion from the premier climate science body could have far-reaching negative implications.
UN Environment Program chief Inger Andersen opened the talks emphasizing urgency as she stated, “Time is not on our side,” urging participants to pursue ambitious results. Following the 2023 stocktake, which severely criticized inadequate progress in tackling global warming, the recent COP28 climate summit called for a decisive shift away from fossil fuels. The IPCC has forewarned that the world is projected to surpass the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as early as the 2030s, with some milestones potentially being breached even sooner.
In conclusion, the recent UN meeting in Hangzhou highlighted the divisions among nations regarding climate action, exacerbated by the absence of the US delegation. The failure to establish a timeline for the IPCC’s upcoming assessment signifies a considerable setback in addressing climate challenges. Urgent calls for action have been made, underscoring the necessity for an accelerated response to the climate crisis, particularly for nations most vulnerable to its impacts.
Original Source: www.manilatimes.net
