What is happening outside the UN process?
There is a plethora of other climate initiatives – the US-led “big emitters” process, the G8, and the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate, to name but three. Many environmental campaigners regard these as distracting side-shows that cannot promise real emission cuts. The recent Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum in Sydney saw more than 20 nations agree to voluntary targets on improving “energy intensity” – the ratio of GDP to energy use – but these targets, even if implemented, could lead to a rise in carbon emissions. None of these other initatives contain measures comparable to those in the Kyoto Protocol for adaptation, reforestation, and technology transfer. Most developing countries, and the EU, are adamant that the UN process should remain paramount; and it is the only process that includes virtually of the world’s nations.
