Hopes that significant progress can be made on a global treaty were reignited in Cancun as the United Nations climate change talks went into final hours.
The Mexican conference president Patricia Espinosa received a standing ovation from delegates after announcing that significant progress had been made on the key texts, with the final versions just being released.
The applause went on for several minutes with delegates smiling, before Mrs Espinosa said world leaders and negotiators would reconvene this evening to give final thoughts on the text.
“Even as I speak, there are still intensive consultations going on…. But this is remarkable progress.. and we must recognise it,” she told the conference at 6pm - the time that Cancun talks were scheduled to end.
The latest texts were met with approval from observers. Greenpeace International climate policy director Wendel Trio said of the updated text on the Kyoto Protocol: “This is getting closer to what the science demands.”
The Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding agreement that binds some developed nations to targets until 2012. It is one of two main tracks of negotiations going on, the other being long-term cooperation action, or LCA.
“If this gets approved, we are much further than we thought we would be before coming to Cancun. It contains both a recognition of the massive gigatonne gap and urges countries to increase the current weak pledges by countries currently on the table,” he said.
The text now lists a range of 25 to 40 per cent emissions cuts - up from the current pledges from developed countries of seven to 14 per cent.
Earlier in the day, Mrs Espinosa said that parties have “very limited time to make a last push” to improve the texts.
Other drafts on different aspects of the deal are being released throughout the day. These will allow the establishment of very important mechanisms to support the efforts of developing states, especially the most vulnerable ones, on adaptation, finance (the Green Fund) and forestry, she said. They include provisions on accountability and transparency, issues known as MRV and ICA.
“The issues under consideration are complex, and informal consultations have been running virtually without stop for many hours. The result of this process, as agreed, will go through the required formal channels. Mexico intends to close the Conference as early as possible,” she said.
The summit is now likely to run into Saturday as negotiators race against the clock to stitch together different parts of the deal for an overall outcome to be agreed on.
European Union climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard told reporters that it was Europe’s hope to get progress on the deal in Cancun, so that a legally binding agreement can be inked in Durban next year - just before the Kyoto Protocol expires.
“How realistic it is to get that… will depend on where we are when this day is over. The more we get done in the next few hours, the smoother the pathway to Durban,” she said.
