Progress at the Seventeenth
Conference of the Parties (COP17) climate change negotiations Durban, South Africa 2011
The United Nations climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa (28 November to 10 December 2011) opened the way to
bring all of the world's major economies—including the United States, China, India and Brazil—into a new
international framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The 194 countries represented at the United Nations conference adopted a package of measures which will build on the
extensive actions already under way around the world to reduce emissions.
The Durban conference continued the progress made in Cancun, Mexico in 2010 where 90 countries representing more than
80 per cent of global emissions made pledges to reduce carbon pollution by 2020 as part of a goal of keeping average
temperature increases below 2 degrees Celsius.
Australia reached agreement at Durban with the European Union and New Zealand to examine opportunities to link
Australia's carbon pricing mechanism with their emissions trading schemes. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency also met colleagues from China, the Republic of Korea and the US state of California, where emissions
trading schemes are being developed, and agreed to share information and exchange expertise.
The
Durban outcomes
Progress towards a new
international climate change framework
Countries agreed in Durban to begin work on a new climate change agreement that will cover all countries. Negotiations
will begin immediately under a new group called the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.
An agreement is to be completed by 2015 and set to come into effect from 2020.
Countries also agreed that there would be a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol from 1 January 2013.
Support carbon markets
There was agreement in Durban to continue the Kyoto Protocol's
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Countries agreed in Durban
to allow carbon capture and storage projects to be included in the CDM.
Countries in Durban also agreed to develop a new market-based mechanism to drive opportunities for low cost emissions
reductions.
Greater transparency
In Durban countries finalised mechanisms to help monitor all countries' emissions reduction actions. This included a
significantly advanced framework to ensure better monitoring, reporting and verification of countries' emissions
reductions in both developing and developed countries.
Protect forests in developing
countries
The Durban conference progressed the
REDD+ mechanism which will reward developing
countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Green Climate Fund
Countries agreed on governance arrangements for the Green Climate Fund which will assist developing countries to
reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. A work program on long-term finance will analyse
long-term finance options.
A technology mechanism
In Durban countries agreed on further rules for a new technology mechanism to speed up transfer of low-emissions and
clean energy technologies to developing countries.
Adaptation Committee
As a result of decisions in Durban, the Adaptation Committee will co-ordinate global efforts to help developing
countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. National adaptation plans will allow developing countries to assess
and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
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