An Unambiguous Consequence of the Durban Climate Talks

In a previous essay — following the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which adjourned on December 11, 2011 — I offered my assessment of the Durban climate negotiations, addressing the frequently- posed question of whether the talks had “succeeded.” I took note of three major outcomes from the negotiations: (1) elaboration on several components of the Cancun Agreements; (2) a second five-year commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol; and (3) a non-binding agreement to reach an agreement by 2015 that will bring all countries under the same legal regime by 2020. My conclusion was that this package — in total — represented something of a “half- full glass of water,” that is, an outcome that could be judged successful or not, depending upon one’s perspective.However, something I did not discuss in that previous essay is that this third provision-the “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action” — has opened an important window. To explain what I mean requires a brief review of some key points from twenty years of history of international climate negotiations.