Global leaders near climate change deal in Paris
The 1.5C is needed to save small island states and many others from floods and sea rises that will not just inundate their land and cities, but contaminate their water with sea water.
But changes to the wording on food security and production would work against the world’s smallholder farmers, while favouring big producers, something Ireland and the IFA have been pushing for.
Laurent Fabius, the French minister leading the negotiations between 190 countries said they were extremely close to the finishing line and it was now time to come to a final agreement.
“Compromise requires us to forget the ideal solution for everybody so we can attain what is desirable for everybody”, he told the delegates before sending them off to negotiate over a limited number of issues with short deadlines.
Much of the disputed areas, on which ministers were prepared to work through the night to resolve, include finance.
Why bother with climate talks? Because only government can solve the issue, not the marketplace https://t.co/bSH8r2ei1T @NaomiOreskes #COP21
— Scientific American (@sciam) December 10, 2015
The goal of $100bn to help poorer countries adapt was about to be reached, but this is to be considered a floor to more aid to compensate countries suffering catastrophes as a result of global warming.
hey also agreed to carry out a review of emissions and plans every five years with the first stocktake in 2019 and after that in 2023, with a revision then in 2020 and 2025.
But how exactly to verify each country’s progress has been a stumbling block with China and others wanting to self-verify, but a credible method is seen as essential.
Earlier in the day the IFA echoed the demands of the Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the start of the 11-day process saying that text on food security and food production were “significant statements that must ensure Ireland’s sustainable model of food production is supported to address increasing demand for emission-efficient dairy and beef produce”.
The words ‘food security” however were missing from the latest draft and Lorna Gold, who was in Paris for Trócaire, said they were extremely disappointed that the provisions on food security and human rights had been removed from the key, legally-binding, part of the text.
“We’re disappointed that the EU does not appear to have driven the importance of food security and human rights of the most vulnerable people”, she said, adding that the goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C was not backed up with the means to deliver it.
