Yes, we care: Day 1, United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw
The governments have to improve their efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions even before year 2020. The United Nations framework Convention on Climate Changes Conference in Warsaw, Repuplic of Poland, should set basis for adopting fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement on climate changes. This document is expected to be signed in Paris in 2015. As the Conference is taking place, destroying typhoon has hit the Republic of Philippines, but also conclusions of International Panel on Climate Changes are not optimistic, at all.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes Conference is organized in Warsaw, in period from 11th to 22nd of November 2013 and participants are coming from 190 states all around the world. Conference has started with call to governments to control human actions affecting the climate in politics, business and society, in general. Another call was made in order to achieve positive improvement towards successful, global agreement on climate in 2015. In the meantime, the level of concentration of greenhouse gases has made a record growth, as it is being increased for 141 percent comparing to pre-industrial age.
Couple of months before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference - COP19 has actually started, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report – IPCC report was not very optimistic. Global warming is rising, and many of the changes are unique comparing with the changes of previous decade, even millenniums. The atmosphere and ocean temperature is rising, snow and ice are melting and sea level is rising, as well. Concentration of greenhouse gases has been increased (You can download Report here). According to the same report, concentration of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide is the biggest in last 800.000 years, which is a result of burning of fossil fuels and secondary net emissions in agriculture.
“We must be focused and we must give our maximum efforts in achieving positive results. What is happening right now is no game for children, there are no two sides of the story, there are no winners and losers, and all of us will either win or lose”, Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of United Nations Framework Convention, has made appealed on representatives of governments.
Many non-governmental organizations have pointed out that Republic of Poland, as a host country, is basing its energy production on intensive coal exploitation. Therefore, this country should undertake some steps in order to join global fight against climate changes. Furthermore, the Unite Nations Conference sponsors are big companies for fossil fuel exploitation. Government of Republic of Poland is even supporting the organization of International Summit on Coal and Climate, which will organized by World Coal Association on 18th and 19th of November 2013. Although, Poland’s share of global carbon dioxide emission is just 1 percent, this country production of electric power is completely based on coal exploitation. The Air Quality in Europe report, developed by European Environmental Agency, is showing that the Poland is one of the countries with the most polluted air in Europe.
Although, it is not expected to adopt historical decision in Warsaw, various approaches in dealing with climate issues will be emphasized. Developing countries are united in their request for significant rise of funds necessary for implementation of concrete actions in dealing with climate changes. These countries expect the confirmation of Cancun Agreement on allocation of financial funds. The funds should be provided by developed countries. European Union (EU) is asking for solidarity and commitment on global level in reducing emission of greenhouse gases. “The Warsaw Summit is important for implementation of previously accepted obligations, but also a place where the ambitious steps will be made in adopting an agreement in Paris in 2015. Here, in this place, it is necessary to prepare ourselves for future agreement, but all countries should be ready for commiting theirselves on significant reducing of these emissions in following decades”, Connie Hedegaard, EU commissioner for climate changes said.