Cancun Conference 2010 on Climate Change

The 12-day Cancun or the United Nations Climate Change Conference took place from 29 November 2010 to 10 December 2010, under the Presidentship of Patricia Espinosa. Cancun Conference was the sixteenth conference of the 194 parties (COP16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the sixth conference of the 192 parties to the Kyoto protocol (CMP6). Union Environment and Forests minister Jairam Ramesh represented India at the Cancun conference. Cancun is a coastal city in Mexico's state, Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Agreements at Cancun Conference

The nations at Cancun conference agreed to set up a 100 billion dollar Green Fund to help developing nations deal with the problem of global warming. However,There was no agreement among nations at Cancun conference on extending the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases emission cuts beyond 2012.

In adiition to setting up the Green Fund, the nations at Cancun conference also agreed to provide continued support for developing countries efforts in adaptation and mitigation, including concrete technology transfer projects. It was also agreed that carbon capture and storage may be an eligible project activity under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), provided it complies with risk and safety management.

Another decision at Cancun conference was to empower the least developed countries (LCD) export group by extending its mandate for a five year term. This one is the longest period given to LCD export group since its establishment in 2001. The group provides technical guidance and advice to LDCs on the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programme.

The nations at Cancun conference also agreed to improve education, training, public awareness on climate change, through increased monetary help for such activities, and to involve civil society in national decision making and the climate change process.

India’s Stance at Cancun Conference
Japan and other developed countries put pressure on India and China through the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), LDCs (Least Developed Countries) and BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) to accept legally binding emission cuts on greenhouse gases. India and China rejected the legally binding emission cuts on the basis that if they do so, it would harm their growth as well the poverty alleviation efforts. India asked for a second commitment period as per the Kyoto Protocol for which Japan was reluctant to concede.The first commitment period covers the period from 2008 to 2012.

As per the Kyoto Protocol, developed nations have to take legally binding emission cuts, whereas developing nations don’t have such provisions to follow.

What is Kyoto Protocol

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the developed countries, including economies in transition(Annex1 countries), committed themselves to reduce emissions of green house gases, which included Carbon Dioxide, Methane,nitrous oxide and sulphur hexafloride, by 5.2 % below the level of 1991 during the period of 2008-2012. The Kyoto Protocol came into force on 16th February 2005. India is a party to the Kyoto Protocol. Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 at COP-3. Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by 191 countries among UNFCCC member countries. Kyoto is a city in Japan.The concept of carbon credit orginated from Kyoto Protocol. One Carbon credit is equal to the one tonne carbon.

UNFCCC

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) is an international environmental treaty agreed at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janiero in 1992 and came into force in March, 1994 after 50 nations ratified it. It has a membership of 194 countries. UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the Kyoto Protocol. India signed the UNFCCC on 10 June 1992 and ratified it on 1st  November 1993.

Important Information
•The objective of both UNFCCC and Kyoto protocol is to control greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere and to prevent harmful human interference with the climate system.
•COP (Conference of Parties) means the reunion of the State Parties on several International Treaties and the term COP is also related to Climate change.
•Parties refer to all the nations who have signed and ratified the above treaties.
•COPs generally take place at annual basis between the months of November and December.
•The 15th COP (Conference of Parties) had taken place in Copenhagen.
•COP-1 had taken place in Berlin, Germany in the year 1995.

•COP-8 took place in New Delhi, India from 23 October 2002 to 1 November 2002.

•Carbon dioxide, Methane, water vapour and nitrous oxide  are some major greenhouse gases found in earth's atmosphere.

•The 17th COP will take place in Durban.

•China is the top emitter of greenhouse gases in the world followed by USA. India stands at fifth position where emission of greenhouses gases is concerned.