Despite a reluctance on the part of some countries to implement or step up emissions cuts, the United Nations Climate Change conference in Nairobi concluded last Friday on a positive note, with agreements reached to proceed toward greater emissions cuts.
In what's considered a major achievement, member nations of the Kyoto Protocol attending the conference admitted for the first time that emissions need to be cut by 50 percent by mid-century to avoid outright climate change disasters.
An agreement to review the Protocol in 2008, with the goal of aiming for deeper emissions cuts beyond 2012 when the treaty expires, is seen as another important achievement. The decision was reached on the last day of the summit, after China was assured that future meetings would not result in immediate mandatory emissions cuts for developing countries.
"There were very low expectations going into Nairobi about what actually could be achieved," says Morag Carter, Director of Climate Change Program at the David Suzuki Foundation. "But one of the things that was important to address was the whole issue of post 2012 targets, who is going to be involved, and what kind of commitments were going to be made."
It was also agreed at the yearly conference, which was attended by around 6,000 participants, that aid to poor nations should be boosted in order to help them adapt to the adverse effects, such as drought and diseases, brought about by climate change.
Some observers criticized the conference for not coming up with a concrete plan and timetable to impose mandatory emissions cuts following the expiry of the Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international legally binding agreement that requires member nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels over a five-year commitment period spanning 2008 to 2012.
Lack of progress is mainly attributed to resistance from major industrialized countries such as the U.S. to join the legally binding agreements, as well as reluctance from developing nations to accept mandatory emission limits. John Drexhage, Director of Climate Change and Energy Program at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, says developing nations' reluctance to act, while not surprising is "a bit distressing."
"Part of the problem is the fact that we haven't seen very strong leadership on the part of industrialized countries in actually meeting their targets, to show that they are in fact on track in meeting their commitments," says Drexhage.
Although several countries have so far met or even surpassed their Kyoto commitments, some member nations such as Canada have far exceeded their 1990 emission levels.
Earlier this year Canada became the first country to abandon its Kyoto targets after the Conservative government claimed there was no way the country could meet the 6 percent reduction targets. The Harper government has however made it clear that Canada is not pulling out of the Kyoto agreement.
Canada has met with criticism from environmental groups and international leaders such as the French Environment Minister, who during the conference publicly criticized Canada for abandoning its commitments.
During a three-minute speech at the summit, Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose blamed the previous Liberal government for "insufficient and unaccountable" environmental policies, and pointed out that Canada is 35 percent over its Kyoto target.
Following the conclusion of the conference, Ambrose said in a news release that Canada is proud of "genuine progress" in Nairobi and that "Nairobi provided an important opportunity to reinforce with Canadians and the international community our government's commitment to the UN process and to constructive efforts for truly global response to climate change."
However, some critics, including Carter, remain skeptical of the government's plans to deal with climate change.
"A couple of comments at the end of the conference is not going to cut it, we really need to see some serious actions on this file. It's important for Canada and Canadians that we get on with the business addressing climate change and that we actually do step up to the plate and show some leadership."
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