The findings of new research published today have found that the structure and processes of the United Nations climate negotiations are “antiquated”, unfair and obstruct attempts to reach agreements. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change argues that the consensus-based decision-making used by the UNFCCC stifles progress and contributes to negotiating deadlocks, which ultimately hurts poor countries more than rich countries.
This article was originally posted online at Earth System Governance on 18/11/2012. The original article can be viewed here.
A new study led by Earth System Governance Scientific Steering Committee member Dr Heike Schroeder (University of East Anglia and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research) calls for a modernisation of antiquated climate negotiations.
The structure and processes of United Nations climate negotiations are “antiquated”, unfair and obstruct attempts to reach agreements, according to research published today. The findings come ahead of the 18th UN Climate Change Summit, which starts in Doha on November 26.
The study published in the journal Nature Climate Change argues that the consensus-based decision making used by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) stifles progress and contributes to negotiating deadlocks, which ultimately hurts poor countries more than rich countries. It shows that delegations from some countries taking part have increased in size over the years, while others have decreased, limiting poor countries’ negotiating power and making their participation less effective.
Dr Schroeder (UEA and Tyndall Centre), Dr Maxwell Boykoff (University of Colorado) and Laura Spiers (Pricewaterhouse Coopers), argue that changes are long overdue if demands for climate mitigation and adaptation agreements are to be met. They recommend that countries consider capping delegation numbers at a level that allows broad representation across government departments and sectors of society, while maintaining a manageable overall size.
“The UN must recognize that these antiquated structures serve to constrain rather than compel co-operation on international climate policy. The time is long overdue for changes to institutions and structures that do not support decision-making and agreements” says Heike Schroeder. “Poor countries cannot afford to send large delegations and their level of expertise usually remains significantly below that of wealthier countries. This limits poor countries’ negotiating power and makes their participation in each session less effective.”
The researchers found that attendance has changed in terms of the number and diversity of representatives. The number of delegates went from 757 representing 170 countries at the first COP in 1995 to 10,591 individuals from 194 countries attending COP15 in 2009 - a 1400 per cent increase. At COP15 there were also 13,500 delegates from 937 non-government Observer organisations.
Small developing countries have down-sized their delegations while G-7 and +5 countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa) have increased theirs. The exception is the United States, which after withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol started to send fewer delegates to COPs.
The study, Equity and state representations in climate negotiations, also looked at the make-up of the delegations and found an increase in participation by environmental, campaigning, academic and other non-Governmental organisations.
“Our work shows an increasing trend in the size of delegations on one side and a change in the intensity, profile and politicization of the negotiations on the other,” explained Heike Schroeder. “These variations suggest the climate change issue and its associated interests are framed quite differently across countries. NSAs are well represented on national delegations but clearly the government decides who is included and who is not, and what the official negotiating position of the country and its level of negotiating flexibility are.”
Some countries send large representations from business associations (Brazil), local government (Canada) or science and academia (Russia). For small developing countries such as Bhutan and Gabon the majority of government representatives come from environment, forestry and agriculture. The UK has moved from mainly environment, forestry and agriculture to energy and natural resources. The US has shifted from these more conventional areas to an overwhelming representation from the US Congress at COP15.
The University of East Anglia is one of the nine centres in the Global Alliance of Earth System Governance Research Centres.
See also the press release by the UEA Communications Office.