SOUTHERN AFRICA NEEDS ACTIVE ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS

by Tinashe Madava

Since the Kyoto climate change discussions in 1997, southern Africa seems to have taken a relaxed attitude towards the emissions reduction issue.

Although the 1997 agreement was to do more with industrialised countries, environmentalists have pointed out that the region, along with other developing countries, should lobby the industrialised countries to commit themselves to an efficient emissions reduction schedule, one that will not grossly affect developing countries.

Various discussions have been held on climate change issues since Kyoto, with divisions upsetting any breakthrough that might be made into addressing this hugely contentious issue among parties.

Much as the Kyoto agreement might be considered a milestone, it has been lambasted for being incomplete. Critics say it left too many crucial questions unanswered.

As the Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change convention, Michael Zammit Cutajar put it, "Kyoto wasn't as definitive as it seemed when the hammer came down." The 1997 agreement did not address the issue of penalties for those who fail to keep to the Kyoto guidelines.

"Since Kyoto, no major industrial nation has ratified the accord, largely because of the absence of compliance terms," said Zammit Cutajar.

A scheme called the "Joint Implementation Strategy" can be entered into by SADC countries. The JIS involves a transfer of new technology or the construction of low-pollution power plants to the advantage of the recipient nation. The notional carbon dioxide saved can then be transferred to the investing country as a credit thus giving that country the right to pollute above its own prescribed target.

SADC countries can be included in the Joint Implementation Strategy if they voluntarily agree to sign up to emission limitations of their own. The lure of technology transfer and hard currency, in exchange for doing very little may be sufficient incentive.

At various preparatory meetings held after Kyoto, the question everybody asks is; "will the US ratify the agreement?" The US is the world's leading air polluter and it is widely assumed that without Washington's backing, any agreement would make little sense.

Meanwhile, the European Union is attempting to take leadership of the Kyoto initiative in order to give it impetus towards implementation of its accords.

Researchers Hermann Ott and Sebastian Oberthur in a policy paper, Breaking the Impasse: Forging an EU Leadership Initiative on Climate Change, point out that the Kyoto Protocol has the potential to provide an important basis for the further development of international climate policy in the next millennium.

"Full implementation by industrialised countries of their differentiated targets would not only lead to a stabilisation of emissions at 1995 levels, but it would also ensure a reversal of current emission trends," say the two researchers.

They argue that the involvement of developing countries in the emissions reduction discussions is of utmost importance for the medium and long-term effectiveness of climate any agreements.

"Developing countries' needs and interests must be addressed first."Placing emphasis on the Clean Development Mechanmism (CDM) which is under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, will ensure that the needs of developing countries are duly recognised without compromising on the ecological effectiveness.

Carbon emissions from the SADC remain very low. The contribution of the region to total global warming is less than four percent for all greenhouse gases, but that is not to say there is room for further pollution

The two researchers argue that since a minimum of 55 ratifications are required for the protocol to enter into force, developing countries must be included in the process. Their involvement in several aspects is decisive for the further success of the international co-operation required by the framework of the protocol.

In the short and medium term, their constructive input will be needed to reach agreement on the Kyoto mechanisms, in particular Emissions Trading and the CDM. In the long term, developing countries will themselves have to limit and reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.

Although the question of developing countries' participation in the Kyoto Protocol is not currently on the official agenda, it has remained one of the most prominent issues throughout the post Kyoto discussions.

However, some politicians and environmentalists are united in their calls for speedy implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Opening a recent conference on global warming, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder called for the implementation of the pact by 2002.

Environmentalists have welcomed appeals for immediate implementation with a specific deadline. But many say the 2002 implementation deadline is unlikely because of major divisions over vital areas of the deal.

One of these problems is the US's desire to allow the unlimited purchase of pollution "credits" from other nations such as amongst the developing countries, whereas the European Union seeks a limit.

The credits would allow heavy polluting nations to buy flexibility in reaching their emissions targets from those that fulfil their targets. The absence of penalties for countries that fail to meet emission targets on greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, would also complicate implementation by 2002.

Since there is no consensus on penalties, many countries favour financial fines, while the US and others want a system allowing countries to borrow against their allotment for future years.

International cooperation is important in addressing transboundary and global environmental challenges beyond the control of any individual nation. Environmentalists hope that the next major global warming conference in 2000 will wrap up the details. (SARDC)