Commission on Sustainable Development UN News
May 8th 2006 03:24
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If anyone is interested in the Commission on Sustainable Development (the first week of talks) which negotiates the JPI (instrument from Rio World Summit) read on.
As with all conferences Cuba was the first speak to make it clear it wanted to officially record its objection to everything without actually officially objecting to the agenda of the meeting.
So whose pushing what?
aside from the all countries parading their polices (Denmark in wind, Brazil with ethanol and hyrbrid powered cars, israel's solar, and iceland's geothermal power - iceland will be fossil fuel free in 2 years!) - what are they pushing? here are the biggest pushers (and longest speakers)
The EU is pushing the Marrakesh Accords and the carbon market.
GERMANY is pushing energy taxes.
The US is pushing nuclear power and the leadership of the private sector. The US is against government regulation and taxes and points out that the EU's regulatory policies will not only slow down its policies but be over their Kyoto target by 4% whereas the US' pursuit of voluntary agreements with industry has not only benefited their economy but they've decreased their emissions.
GERMANY and DENMARK point out that the US has incorrect stats & that they will be 8% below their target while the US' emissions are actually increasing. And that that the US delegate is wearing last season's tie.
The AFRICAN & LATIN AMERICAN countries are pushing for finance for infrustructure and technology transfer (which was agreed to in the UNFCCC and Kyoto)
The BWIs however point out there is "no free lunch". If they want investment, they're going to have to have to structurally reform their economy, which means privitisation of the energy sector. As the world bank president on energy said, someone, somewhere has to pay (as long as its not him!)
SWEDEN & the NETHERLANDS are pushing, most reasonably for sustainable consumption and energy efficiency - for instance in better insulated buildings to cut heating and air conditioning costs and to create more jobs
RUSSIA is pushing natural gas (for the most part Operation BlueFlow which delivers gas to Turkey)
SUADIA ARABIA is pushing oil. According to the Saudis, while it would be nice to get power from the wind and the sun, we must accept that our future is in fossil fuels. And we must buy their oil.
AUSTRALIA talks a lot about how we sign a lot of treaties (sign and never ratify!) which actually has nothing to do with the meeting at all.
The US has complained that AUSTRIA gets more time than anyone else, as it speaks on behalf of the EU, the succeeding countries, the candidate countries, and the potential candidate countries (which includes S & M! whose delegate is bored out of his mind and often goes out for a ciggie). The problem is not so much that it gets more time but that after it speaks the EC speaks, and everyone else too! In every session GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, FRANCE, DENMARK, SWEDEN speak, so the US can't let it go....more cutting remarks and dirty looks are exchanged between the EU & the US than the North & South.
Tomorrow, what are the hot themes of the conference... stay tuned.
As with all conferences Cuba was the first speak to make it clear it wanted to officially record its objection to everything without actually officially objecting to the agenda of the meeting.
So whose pushing what?
aside from the all countries parading their polices (Denmark in wind, Brazil with ethanol and hyrbrid powered cars, israel's solar, and iceland's geothermal power - iceland will be fossil fuel free in 2 years!) - what are they pushing? here are the biggest pushers (and longest speakers)
The EU is pushing the Marrakesh Accords and the carbon market.
GERMANY is pushing energy taxes.
The US is pushing nuclear power and the leadership of the private sector. The US is against government regulation and taxes and points out that the EU's regulatory policies will not only slow down its policies but be over their Kyoto target by 4% whereas the US' pursuit of voluntary agreements with industry has not only benefited their economy but they've decreased their emissions.
GERMANY and DENMARK point out that the US has incorrect stats & that they will be 8% below their target while the US' emissions are actually increasing. And that that the US delegate is wearing last season's tie.
The AFRICAN & LATIN AMERICAN countries are pushing for finance for infrustructure and technology transfer (which was agreed to in the UNFCCC and Kyoto)
The BWIs however point out there is "no free lunch". If they want investment, they're going to have to have to structurally reform their economy, which means privitisation of the energy sector. As the world bank president on energy said, someone, somewhere has to pay (as long as its not him!)
SWEDEN & the NETHERLANDS are pushing, most reasonably for sustainable consumption and energy efficiency - for instance in better insulated buildings to cut heating and air conditioning costs and to create more jobs
RUSSIA is pushing natural gas (for the most part Operation BlueFlow which delivers gas to Turkey)
SUADIA ARABIA is pushing oil. According to the Saudis, while it would be nice to get power from the wind and the sun, we must accept that our future is in fossil fuels. And we must buy their oil.
AUSTRALIA talks a lot about how we sign a lot of treaties (sign and never ratify!) which actually has nothing to do with the meeting at all.
The US has complained that AUSTRIA gets more time than anyone else, as it speaks on behalf of the EU, the succeeding countries, the candidate countries, and the potential candidate countries (which includes S & M! whose delegate is bored out of his mind and often goes out for a ciggie). The problem is not so much that it gets more time but that after it speaks the EC speaks, and everyone else too! In every session GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, FRANCE, DENMARK, SWEDEN speak, so the US can't let it go....more cutting remarks and dirty looks are exchanged between the EU & the US than the North & South.
Tomorrow, what are the hot themes of the conference... stay tuned.
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Matt
SydneyDiary