Ms. Kirsty Duncan, MP and Mr. Peter Braid, MP
represented the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
at the CPA UK International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change:
Countdown to Copenhagen (IPCCC), at the Houses of Parliament, London, from 5 –
11 July 2009. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s International
Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change brought together 70 Parliamentarians
from 37 Commonwealth and other countries to discuss and debate critical climate
change issues with a wide range of experts and presenters.
The Canadian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association was represented by Mr. Peter Braid, M.P. and Ms. Kirsty Duncan,
M.P.
The objective of the conference was to equip
Parliamentarians to seek effective and just responses to climate change,
including supporting adaptation and mitigation measures that are fair,
realistic, and inclusive. An overarching focus of the conference was the
impact of global warming on poor and vulnerable countries, and the
responsibility of the international community to assist those communities most
affected by climate change. The following summarizes the major themes and
lines of discussion and debate throughout the five days of the conference.
Scope:
Climate change is the defining issue of our generation.
The global community must collectively rise to the challenge. We have to act
immediately. Every 10 year delay adds 0.5 o C warming. Several
presenters emphasized the complexity and scale of the global threat of climate
change. There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding issues such as the
Gulf Stream, the Amazon basin, and the polar regions. Glacial melting, sea
levels, deforestation, changing weather patterns, and effects on agriculture
and food supply were all cited as areas of concern.
Impact on vulnerable nations:
The most vulnerable areas of the world are Africa, Asian
deltas, small island states, and the Arctic. The most vulnerable sectors
include, water systems, agriculture in low latitudes, and human health in poor
areas. His Excellency Mohammed Nasheed, the President of the Republic of the
Maldives, spoke about the immediate impacts of climate change on his people.
As a country that lies only1.5 m above sea level, the Maldives is already
facing hardship as a result of global warming. Sea level is rising, weather
patterns are shifting, fishing is poor, and people have already had to
relocate.
An increasing focus has become the human rights
implications of climate change. Vulnerable nations are disproportionally
affected by changes to their way of life, access to food and water supplies,
and threats to health and security. Climate change can be seen as a human
rights issue: the rights to food, shelter, livelihood, health, and security
are all being threatened. In addition, rising sea levels are shrinking some
nations, resulting in forced displacement and migration and the emergence of
what some have termed “environmental refugees”. Climate change is a multiplier
for instability.
Responsibility to assist vulnerable nations:
There is a tension because the developed countries
largely created the climate crisis, and yet, the greatest impacts are in the
developing world. The developed countries have a moral obligation to assist
vulnerable nations and peoples with adaptation and mitigation strategies. The
voice from the front line of climate change must be heard; those impacted by
climate change, should be meaningfully involved; those making decisions must be
accountable to those impacted.
Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies:
Adaptation and mitigation strategies were examined.
Mitigation can create opportunities to increase economic competitiveness. The
focus should be renewable energy, nuclear, and carbon capture.
The decarbonisation of the environment and the
sustainability of the economy are on the same side of the coin. The corporate
world understands that a strong environmental policy pays off on the bottom
line. As we look to stimulate the world’s economy, we must also encourage
investment in green jobs. This would help with the economic crisis, credit
crisis, and climate crisis. If countries can invest in the failing banking
system, they should be willing to invest in green stimulus. We must look for a
triple win—renewable stimulus, with positive impacts on the economy, and the
atmosphere.
Governments might consider cost-effective technologies,
cap and trade regimes, regulations and taxes. Governments must also invest in
basic science and research and development for viable technologies such as
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). A carbon market has the opportunity to
positively transform the economy and help to flow capital to the developing
world.
Action:
Presenters emphasized that action requires clear
political leadership. The vision must come from the top of government, and must
be long-term. Government needs to regulate and penalize polluters, and reward
low-emitters. Government must also unleash academic research and technology,
and enhance an entrepreneurial environment. Governments should be challenged
to stretch national targets, and then meet them.
We need global action, backed-up by a national plan. We
should push for strong action despite tough economic times; we have a
collective ethical responsibility. It is important for governments to realize
that individuals are making change in their own lives, and that they want
change on the national and international stage.
Role of Parliamentarians and the Commonwealth:
Parliamentarians can and ought to have a critical role
in addressing the challenges of climate change. They are uniquely placed, both
at a grassroots level with constituents, and at the policy level as legislators,
to create a just and effective long-term response.
The Commonwealth is seen an important instrument to
advance the important objectives of democracy, human rights, good governance
and the rule of law. The Commonwealth nations should encourage an on-going and
meaningful international dialogue on climate change, and to work towards a
fair, comprehensive, inclusive, and effective global agreement on climate
change.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians agreed to the following
statement at the conclusion of the conference:
CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUÉ
1. We, the 70 Parliamentarians from 37 Parliaments
and Legislatures1 of Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries, met at the
Houses of Parliament in London 5-11 July 2009 for a timely and unique
“International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change: Countdown to
Copenhagen”. The aim of the Conference was to equip Parliamentarians better to
hold their Executives to account on effective and just responses to climate
change in the lead up to and after the 14th meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) in Copenhagen 7 – 18 December 2009.
Our overarching objective was to consider clear and
targeted strategies to contribute as parliamentarians to responding to the
challenge of our lifetimes – curbing global warming, keeping it well below the
2ºC tipping point2, and supporting adaptation and mitigation measures in a
manner that respects human rights and is fair, comprehensive, inclusive and
effective.
2. We recognise the forthcoming UNFCCC COP meeting in
Copenhagen, as a critical moment in global negotiations on climate change.
Climate scientists and projections show that the time for effective public
policy to curb climate change from dangerous levels is running out; economists
have highlighted that the longer climate change is left unchecked the more
costly it will be to mitigate and adapt to its consequences; and the poorest
and most vulnerable groups and communities around the world are already
struggling to survive the impacts of climate change.
3. We recognise that current efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the Earth’s atmosphere are insufficient
given the scale of action required; that GHG emissions need to be reduced
radically if global warming rates are to be kept well below the 2ºC tipping
point; that emission caps need to reflect responsibility for historic emissions
into the atmosphere by industrialised countries; that adequate resources need
to be mobilised for mitigation initiatives and technologies to be developed,
shared and employed to curb effectively the current path towards dangerous
global warming; and that the inclusion of mechanisms for reducing emissions
from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and payment for environmental
services (PES) in a post-2012 climate regime represent significant
opportunities for forest-rich countries to contribute to the achievement of
this goal whilst also securing important benefits for their citizens.
1 Australia, New South Wales, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Canada, East African Legislative Assembly,
Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico,
Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Pan African Parliament, Portugal, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Scotland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, The Gambia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vietnam.
2 The 2ºC tipping point refers to what scientists agree
is the level of global warming beyond which the process and effects of global
warming would be irreversible and catastrophic for ecosystems and human society
on the planet.
4. We recognise that climate change is already
happening; that current GHG emissions already commit the planet to further
global warming; that despite being the least responsible for current and
historic global GHG emissions, developing countries are already the worst
affected by global warming and will continue to be so in the future; that
developing countries, the most vulnerable, are also the least well equipped to
respond to the predicted and increasingly frequent and severe humanitarian
crises and adaptation challenges posed by climate change; and that the
industrialised countries have an historic responsibility for climate change
which places upon them an obligation - to provide sufficient adaptation
funding, in the form of grants; to ensure these are available quickly and
efficiently, and in addition to existing overseas development aid.
5. We recognise that effective mitigation and adaptation
depends on the urgent development and transfer of appropriate technologies,
especially to the poor, and that both developed and developing countries have
expertise to offer.
6. We recognise that rising sea levels, floods, droughts
and desertification caused by escalating climate change result in forced
displacement and migration and we call for a global mechanism or protocol
recognising the rights of environmental migrants and global responsibilities
due to them.
7. We welcome and encourage the UNFCCC Secretariat’s
continuing coordination of regular high-level international meetings on climate
change and we call on developed countries to support more inclusive processes,
structures and systems of engagement to ensure that the voices of developing
countries are heard equally in negotiating processes.
8. We recognise that equity and justice must be guiding
principles, not only between, but also within countries. More attention must be
given to social, economic and human rights issues in the negotiations and their
outcomes. In particular, principles of gender equity and justice must be taken
into consideration at all stages of international, regional and national
climate policy-making. The human rights of marginalised groups including rights
to land and rights to shape the measures that will affect their lives must be
respected.
9. As representatives of 37 Parliaments and
Legislatures, we strongly urge our Governments to:
a. Seize this moment in history and work collectively,
creatively and urgently towards a fair, comprehensive, inclusive and effective
global agreement on climate change.
b. Encourage and support our COP negotiators to
facilitate reaching such an agreement at Copenhagen and before the expiry of
the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
c. Press for a global emission target of 40% reduction
below the 1990 level by 2020, and rigorous and sustainable investment in the
realisation of this target.
d. Ensure climate change mitigation policies and
strategies go hand in hand with support for adaptation policies and strategies.
e. Close the gap between estimates of adaptation funding
required and funding already committed, and make this quickly and easily
available for urgent action on adaptation.
f. Adopt a strategy of early action on disaster
preparedness and adaptation as a cost effective response to climate change and
protecting past, current and future poverty reduction investments and successes
- assuring policy coherence and the efficient use of public funds.
g. Mainstream climate change analysis across all public
policy from health and education to immigration and defence assuring policy
coherence and the efficient use of public funds.
h. Take into account human rights and responsibilities under
international agreements, including commitments to women’s rights and the
consideration of gender differences in behaviour, across all mitigation and
adaptation policies and interventions.
i. Take into account the needs and interests of ALL
stakeholders via active consultation with groups including women, men,
children, minority and indigenous groups as well as civil society, NGOs,
business and industry.
j. Engage in national, regional and international level
cooperation and action to explore openly all opportunities to tackle the
emerging, diverse, inter-connected, cross-border causes and consequences of
climate change.
10. We Parliamentarians pledge to:
a. Build on this conference by using our influence at
local, national, regional and international levels around the world to press
for a fair, comprehensive, inclusive and effective agreement at Copenhagen and
for its effective, efficient and timely implementation.
b. Initiate and encourage scrutiny and debate of climate
legislation in our countries.
c. Build and strengthen solidarity between
Parliamentarians and forge cross-party alliances at local, national, regional
and international levels, including the formation of relevant committees,
associations and networks, this conference being an initial step.
d. Sensitise and educate our constituents and the
broader public to build a groundswell of support for urgent political action to
mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Russ Hiebert, M.P.,
Chair
Canadian Branch
of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)