A Closer Look At Copenhagen

Adoption of The Copenhagen Agreement Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

I. A Shared Vision for Long-Term Cooperative Action
2. The Parties recognize the urgency of addressing the need for enhanced action on adaptation to climate change. They are equally convinced that moving to a low-emission economy is an opportunity to promote continued economic growth and sustainable development in all countries recognizing that gender equality is essential in achieving sustainable development. In this regard, the Parties:
- Commit to strengthen the international architecture for the provision of substantially increased finance for climate efforts in developing countries

3. Recalling the ultimate objective of the Convention, the Parties stress the urgency of action on both mitigation and adaptation and recognize the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2 degrees C.
- Support the goal of a peak of global emissions as soon as possible, but no later than [2020], acknowledging that developed countries collectively have peaked and that the timeframe for peaking will be longer in developing countries

II. Adaptation
4. The adverse effects of climate change are already taking place and are posing a serious threat to the social and economic development of all countries. This is particularly true in the most vulnerable developing countries, which will be disproportionally affected.

Adaptation must include action to reduce risk and vulnerability, taking into account gender equality, and build resilience in order to reduce the threats, loss and damages to livelihoods and ecosystems from disasters caused by extreme weather events and from slow-onset events caused by gradual climate change. Recognizing that the impact of climate change will differ according to regional and national circumstances, planning and implementation of adaptation actions must be considered in the context of the social, economic and environmental policies of each country.

5. In this regard, the Parties endorse the adaptation framework in decision X4/CP.15 with the objective of reducing vulnerability and building resilience to present and future effects of climate change through national action and international cooperation. This includes the provision of finance, technology and capacity building in the immediate, medium and long-term.

Support should be provided with priority for the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
In the context of this Framework institutional arrangements will be established over time to support Parties’ actions and provide technical assistance including for risk reduction and provide financial risk transfer such as insurance.

Further, this will include a system to ensure mutual accountability with monitoring, review and assessment of support and actions and share lessons learned. A share of fast-start financing comprising [$X] for 2010-12 will be provided through existing channels, including the Adaptation Fund, to implement actions identified in National Adaptation Programmes of Action and other urgent needs and to build capacity for further planning.


III. Mitigation
6. The shared vision limiting global average temperature rise to a maximum of 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels

Developing countries nationally appropriate mitigation actions
9. The developing country Parties, except the least developed countries which may contribute at their own discretion, commit to nationally appropriate mitigation actions, including actions supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity-building.

11. A Registry in the form of a database under UNFCCC is established in order to enable the international recognition of developing country mitigation action.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
12. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is an important aspect of the necessary response to climate change. Developing countries should contribute to enhanced mitigation actions through reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, maintaining existing and enhancing carbon stocks, and enhancing removals by increasing forest cover. [I expect this to lead to starvation and depopulation.] Parties underline the importance of enhanced and sustained financial resources and positive incentives for developing countries to, through a series of phases, build capacity and undertake actions that result in measurable, reportable and verifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions and removal and changes in forest carbon stocks in relation to reference emission levels.

Bunkers
13. An effective mitigation response includes reduction of emissions from international bunker fuels.
The Parties shall work through the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization to take this issue forward and secure a timely implementation of actions needed,

Carbon markets
14. An effective mitigation response requires a well functioning carbon market.

National policies
15. The Parties commit to further integrate low-emission development policies into national planning.
In addition, the Parties commit to work towards adopting domestic policies aiming at payment for actual consumption of energy. Furthermore, transparency concerning consumption and cost of energy should be increased.

Response measures
16. Parties decide that countries must strive to implement policies and measures in such a way as to minimize adverse social, environmental and economic impacts on developing country


IV. Technology
17.
information sharing on best practices, and greater capacity-building efforts to promote the development and deployment of environmentally sustainable technologies in support of mitigation and adaptation efforts.

18.
Developed country parties commit to work towards doubling aggregate public investments in climate related research, development and demonstration by 2015 from current levels and quadrupling the efforts by 2020. Parties stress the need for up front finance for inter alia technology capacity building, joint research and development and demonstration projects. Parties endorse the “Technology Mechanism” set forth in decision X5/CP15, containing a technology objective, a UNFCCC technology body, the development of technology action plans, the establishment of six Climate Technology Innovation Centres in developing countries [i.e. control over technology]


V. Financial resources and investments to support actions on mitigation, adaptation, capacity-building and technology cooperation
19. Substantially scaled up financial resources will be needed to address mitigation, adaptation, technology and capacity building. It is essential to strengthen the international financial architecture for assisting the developing countries in dealing with climate change and to improve access to financial support. Resources will derive from multiple sources and flow through multiple bilateral and multilateral channels. [aka ways to hide fraudulent activities]

20. The Parties share the view that the strengthened financial architecture should be able to handle gradually scaled up international public support.

21. The Parties confirm climate financing committed under this agreement as new and additional resources that supplement existing international public financial flows otherwise available for developing countries in support of poverty alleviation and the continued progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard:
- Developed country parties commit to deliver upfront public financing for 2010-201[2] corresponding on average to [10] billion USD annually for early action, capacity building,

22. Recalling article 4 of the Convention, Parties decide that a Climate Fund be established as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention, The Fund should be operated by a board with balanced representation, which will develop the operational guidelines for the Fund and decide on specific allocation to programmes and projects. The COP will formally elect members of the Fund Board and endorse the operational guidelines and modalities for the Fund. The Fund should complement and maximise global efforts to fight climate change through up-scaled support for climate efforts in the developing countries, including mitigation, adaptation, technology and capacity-building.

23. In the context of the commitment in paragraph [14] Parties commit to global financing contributions from international aviation and international maritime transport generated through instruments developed and implemented by the ICAO and IMO respectively should be channeled through the Climate Fund

24. To enhance transparency and overview The Parties decide to establish an International Climate Financing Board under the UNFCCC to monitor and review international financing for climate action and in this context identify any gaps and imbalances in the international financing for mitigation and adaptation actions that may arise. The Board will consist of X representatives from developed countries and [y] representatives from developing countries. [Z] Representatives from international institutions will participate in the Board as permanent observers.


VI: Measurement, Reporting and Verification and improved National Communications
26. The Parties commit to robust measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of the commitments undertaken in this Agreement and to review global progress in addressing climate change.

Measurement, Reporting and Verification for developed countries
27. ... Finance, technology and capacity building for developing countries actions are subject to robust MRV. Provision of international public climate financing should be verified in conjunction with the MRV of supported action and according to international guidelines.

Measurement, Reporting and Verification for developing countries
28. In order to promote transparency and accountability the developing country Parties will report on the implementation of their individual mitigation actions and emission outcomes achieved in relation to their estimates in Attachment B.

The Registry
29. Parties decide to establish a Registry that will be managed and operated independently by a professional secretariat which shall perform its tasks to the highest standards of professionalism and objectivity. The secretariat shall further prepare and propose the accounting standards for MRV of specific mitigation action and of financing. [further tasks]

Improved National Communications
30. Noting that low-emission development is indispensable to sustainable development and recognizing that development strategies and priorities are sovereign national decisions. [Giving notice to all Parties that mechanisms to bypass national sovereignty must be available]
- That Parties are to provide their greenhouse gas inventories on an annual basis with the exception that the developing countries can provide updates on a biannual basis and the least developed country Parties on a triennial basis;
- The Parties will report, as applicable, on support received and support provided to developing countries for their actions in National Communications. A comprehensive set of statistics for climate change finance will be established enabling transparent monitoring of both provision of finance and supported climate actions. Financial flows from the international carbon market should be monitored and recognized separately.


VII: The Copenhagen Process
31. The Parties underline their commitment to immediate action pursuant to this Agreement.
- Decide on a review of commitments and actions under the Convention to be started in 2014 and completed in 2015

32. The Parties commit to work together in international organizations, including international financial institutions, to further integrate climate aspects in their activities, including country reviews.


This Treaty should be retitled as The Treaty for the Sustainable Governance of Earth for the Benefit of the Elite