TEMPO.CO, Paris - First week of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or also known as the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) in Paris had left most of its participants unsatisfied. Many of the parties participating in the event were determined to achieve its own interests.
"The UNFCCC is just too slow, not exciting and the negotiators are not determined. Governments lost its ground to big corporations ready to reduce emission by applying clean technology and take other mitigation efforts," said Avi mahaningtyas, an environmental activist who aprticipated in the event on Sunday, December 7, 2015.
Avi said that in the previous COP event, negotiations were tough and could went on until midnight. However, during the current COP event, negotiations were nowhere to be seen at 9:00 PM local time. Avi asserted that one of the cause of lack of excitement was the fact that most member states participating in the COP 21 were inexperienced.
Avi said that during the first week, all negotiations will be focused on accomodating the principle of responsibility and capability mentioned in the 'Common but Differentiated Responsibility with Respective Capability' (CBDR-RC) that can be accepted and are applicable by all member states. "Both principle will reflect justice and equality in the agreement that will be made by the end of the convention. Including in the discussion on climate financinf," said Efransjah, WWF Indonesia CEO, who is also present in the event.
One of the major issues heavily discussed in the event is the long-term target for atmospheric emission reduction. Debates continue between the group that demands global tempreature increase of no more than 2 degree celcius with the group that demands the figure to be no more than 1.5 degree celcius. The latter group argued that high increase of global tempreature would have severe effect on low-income and archipelagic states, including Indonesia.
On the other hand, Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of the Institute for Essential Service Reform (IESR) said that it is normal for the first week of COP 21 to progress rather slowly because each member states will make an initial observation.
"Indonesia sits in the middle, but on certain context [we] sides with developing countries, for example, in terms of support from developed countries for the implementation [of certain principles]," Fabby said.
UNTUNG WIDYANTO (PARIS)
