The Goals for UNFCCC 2008

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In Poznań, Poland, leaders from around the world will gather for the 2008 United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC). Over 192 countries have ratified the UNFCCC treaty, and will be meeting to continue to work towards dealing with the effects of global climate change.

When the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, a new climate change initiative will need to be in place. This is the objective to be reached at the UNFCCC 2009 in Copenhangen, with Poznań serving as the half-way point to this goal. Approximately 8,000 attendees are expected to participate in and observe the Conference this year, which runs from December 1-12.

The Agenda

* At Poznań, Parties to the UNFCCC are expected to assess the progress made in 2008 and map out what needs to happen in 2009 in order to establish a new climate change deal in Copenhagen. Many delegates will discuss their ideas to enact long-term, international cooperation for action on climate change.
* Also, a draft will be written to serve as the basis for the first draft of the negotiating text for which could serve as the basis for a first draft of the negotiating text for an agreed outcome at Copenhagen. Additionally, technology will be a prominent issues, especially in terms of risk management and reduction strategies.
* The conference will also check the progress of issues still pertaining to the Kyoto Protocol, especially for developing countries dealing with adaptation, finance, technology and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
* Parties to the Kyoto Protocol also agree that there will be “inevitable effects of climate change.” As such, they are expected to finalize the Protocol’s Adaptation Fund to help counties with the finance to establish the necessary systems to “adapt” to these changes. An assessment of the Protocol mechanisms and geographical reach will also be conducted.

The Polish government, in anticipation of the carbon that will be generated by the conference, has estimated the total carbon output of the conference, including hotel rooms, travel, meetings and local transportation. As such, 13,000 tons of green house gases (GHGs) are estimated for the approixmate 8,000 attendees expected to show at the Conference, which the Polish government will offset completely once final figures are available. Indvidual delegations and organizations (such as the United Kingdom and the European Union) have already set measures in place to offset their carbon footprint in travelling to and from the Conference.

By Jennifer Berry