COP 21 – A North American Overview

This article is based upon some of the background of the international climate change discussions, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) itself, and the resultant Paris Agreement, interwoven with the roles and positions of the North American nations. 

December 2009: A devastating report by the international media claimed that discussions the Copenhagen Summit (COP 15) were ?in disarray?. In the aftermath of COP 15 was a large perceived failure for international discussions on the topic of global warming and climate change due to problems in negotiations and large differences between developed and developing countries on the topic of emissions reductions. The United States termed the agreement one which would be ?meaningful? however the document itself was not legally binding. The negotiation issues which surfaced at the summit did lead to an interesting debate. It was, and still is, given that many perceive taking steps towards solving climate change with economic cut-backs. Hence, should it be the developing or the developed nations which carry the larger economic burden associated with this problem? This question is one which really should not exist. However, this question is also one which indicates the murky world of environmental politics. Climate change is a global issue which will undermine all economies – developing and developed. Hence, the question which plagued COP 15 really should never have existed. This sentiment was captured when Sharan Burrow, the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Conference, stated, ?There are no jobs on a dead planet?.

May 2014: Scientists and policy-makers alike read and re-read the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). Within the massive document, published in three phases, there was one line in particular which summarized the climate situation: ?It is extremely likely (90%-100%) that human influence has been the dominant cause of observed warming since 1950, with the level of confidence having increased since the fourth report?. This situation expressed that, based upon over 9200 peer-reviewed studies, the global scientific community believed that climate change and global warming was a human induced outcome. This document was considered by many to ?pave the way? for a legally binding treaty to reduce carbon emissions at COP 21.

December 2015: COP 21 had 196 parties that were in attendance. Of these, major North American countries of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Denmark (Greenland) were represented. All participant parties agreed to the Paris Agreement, one which unlike the Copenhagen Accord was passed by all parties. The Agreement stated that members would agree to try their bets in keeping global warming under 2 degrees Celsius. This Agreement was one which is potentially legally binding to the parties if it is joined by 55 nations which together represent over 55 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Such nations must be willing to sign the agreement in 2016 and 2017. According to many scholars, it is doubtful if the United States would join the agreement due to internal politics. All of the Republican candidates for the upcoming Presidential Elections in the United States have expressed opposition to any emissions reductions plan. With the United States as the world?s second largest emissions centre, this could significantly influence the legally binding clauses of the Agreement. Furthermore, it is argued that the lack of full political effort and initiative from the United States may significantly reduce such initiative from other nations as well. One nation where this may prove to be false in Canada. With a newly elected Liberal majority government, the Canadian government has shown promise in taking steps to resolve the climate change crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited all provincial Premiers, federal leaders of opposition parties, and numerous organizations and individuals (including youth) to attend meetings preceding the conference and COP 21 itself. Many of the invited individuals attended the conferences and meetings creating a stronger Canadian voice on climate change. Furthermore, Mexico shows national commitment to the climate change issue when the nation clearly stated its position on the climate change issue as well as its commitments in a National Climate Plan. This document committed to cut the 2013 CO2 levels by 50% by the year 2030.

This overview of the background and participation of the North American nations indicates a fundamental truth: climate change can only be tackled on an international forum. While current governments in US, Canada, and Mexico all recognize this fact, the history of climate change negotiation has proved that there exists many differences between promises and action. In the coming year, it will be imperative that nations join the Paris Agreement and that the document becomes legally binding. If it does, then the promises of the COP 21 will stand a chance at being converted to action. Ultimately, it is important to recognize that many of the world?s governments have an interest in serving the people of the nation. The most organic and meaningful change will occur if the people demand and oversee committed environmental action from their nations governments.

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Photos: 

(1) US Secretary of State John Kerry speaking at COP 21.

(2) President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and OECD President Angel Gurria shake hands at COP 21. 

Photo Credit: 

(1) www.voanews.com

(2) www.huffingtonpost.ca