Climate talks fail, alternative needed

Submitted by martin on 11 December, 2012 - 10:15

The irony should not be lost. The irony of holding the latest round of climate talks in the desert in Qatar, which has the highest per capita emissions of any state as well as an appalling record on workers’ rights.

The UN 18th annual climate change conference in Qatar was an abject failure, which no amount of spinning can disguise.

The World Meteorological Organisation reported a new high of 390 parts of CO2 per million in 2011 — the planet needs 350ppm to meet the 2°C increase target most scientists believe is necessary to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Even a new World Bank report warns that we are currently on track for a 4°C world, with extreme heat-waves and life-threatening sea level rises.

This month the Kyoto protocol, the only pitiful global agreement made to limit greenhouse gas emissions, will run out. Kyoto covered about 15% of global emissions, mainly from the European Union. No agreement to replace Kyoto was worked out at Copenhagen in 2009 or at subsequent UN conference. Nor was it resolved in Qatar. Instead the powers squabbled about carrying over “hot-air” credits.

The headline agreement concerned adaptation, for “loss and damage” for poorer states from a warming world as a result of past emissions. The agreement was hailed by some small states and NGOs, but it is difficult to see what price can be put on the submersion of whole ecosystems or the destruction of whole cities. The arrangement does not constitute legal liability and the funds are not compensation – they are most likely to come from miserable existing aid budgets.

There were few significant protests in Qatar during the conference. However on Saturday 1 December, 40 union delegates join a march through Doha under the banner: “No world cup in Qatar without labour rights”, protesting at the 300 annual construction workers’ deaths in the state.

Climate politics is currently in a very bad place, with extreme energy such as shale gas fracking, tar sands oil extraction and more coal-fired generation threatening a ‘second coming’ for fossil-based power. The Tory-led government is backing a revived fossil fuel strategy. Its Energy Bill has excluded a “decarbonisation target” for 2030. The autumn statement included the setting up an Office for Unconventional (Shale) Gas — dubbed Ofshag — even though the drilling is highly damaging and the potential benefits unclear.

Climate activists need an alternative approach, opposed to all sections of capital, including the carbon marketeers and based on the interests and organisations of millions of workers.

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