At half-time of the world climate conference in Poland, the environmentalists and many of the delegates are still waiting for real progress. Meanwhile, the USA, Russia and some Arab States once again unpopular.
First the good news: early Monday, the German Delegation reported in Katowice proud of the commitment of the Federal government on a new field of climate policy: a severe weather-insurance for the poor, especially from climate change affected countries. 2015, on the Paris Meeting, was to set up an Initiative for this, now the Secretary of state reports in the German development Ministry, Maria Flachsbarth of the CDU is that Germany provided € 300 million had already been distributed to two-thirds. And that was very well received in the partner countries in the Caribbean, in Africa and in the South Pacific. The meeting is Germany’s role on Climate, as we know it since years: as a lawyer of the poor countries, as a generous donor. If it were not for the high emissions in the country, which are mainly due to the traffic and the still-strong coal production.
The Germans are in the criticism, because you are far away from their climate goals.
Outraged Environmental Activists
Also on Monday, an hour later, talking about it a few meters away from the German pavilion, in which the government informed the journalists, Stephan Singer in a Rage. The German climate expert for the “Climate Action Network”, or CAN for short, is based in Brussels and active and grumbles to his home country: “Germany must speed up its exit strategy from Coal now. Germany is in absolute terms, the largest greenhouse gas producer in the EU.” Long ago, the country was once considered to be a pioneer in the reduction of climate gases. The Singer just released with other environmental activists a Ranking of 60 countries, the rating of the quality of the climate policy. Germany lands on a medium-sized space 27. Still far better than propping up Iran, USA and Saudi Arabia, but also far worse, such as Sweden or Morocco. Embarrassing.
“We have learned from the mistakes!”
Back in the German pavilion, soothes Karsten Sach from Germany’s environment Ministry, which leads for many years the negotiations on such a Meeting for Germany: “It is the declared objective of the government and the coalition to decide in the next year, a climate protection act, which aims to ensure that we are targets of our climate for 2030 to comply with. We have learned from the mistakes of the past!” The 2020 target of 40 percent of the climate to save harmful gases, misses Germany crashing, now it’s supposed to be so the goal, to reduce, by 2030, 55 percent of greenhouse gases. If this is gonna work, it must be soon declared the phase-out of coal.
Medical students point to the dangers of bad air
The United States and Russia with the Arab States against all other
In the case of the great lines of international climate policy Germany belongs, but continues to be one of the drivers. In contrast to the United States under President Donald Trump, who decided from the climate of Treaty of Paris, under Barack Obama, has withdrawn. In Katowice, the United States Delegation. And the headlines: In the autumn of the world climate Council, the Assembly of about 900 scientists, an alarming report presented by the Tenor: The States must of the climate goals of repair, otherwise irreparable damage on the world climate. And most of the States want to welcome this report in Katowice now and welcome. But the United States together with Russia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to take the report only “to the knowledge”. An Affront. Really hard the opposites of one another is a police officer, it is behind the Scenes. A solution is still being sought. Not a good sign for the last days of the conference.
A nostalgic look back
If it goes well, then these days will bring further Commitments, especially to richer countries for climate protection in the poor countries and for the implementation of the climate protection plans of the 190 States that have been decided in Paris three years ago, solemnly. Small steps, but still. Oh, and Paris, there was a real euphoria. Almost wistfully, Laurent Fabius, then French foreign Minister, drove the famous Paris-agreement with advance is located in Katowice. Now he calls here, in Poland, to lose the vigor.
Poland coal country: A large part of electricity is produced from coal
The economy is driving the policy
The challenge then, more than 400 international investors: “We are concerned that the implementation of the Paris-agreement far enough to reach the agreed target to hold the increase in global average temperature well below two degrees Celsius,” – said in a joint call of 415 large banks, pension funds, life insurers, asset managers, and other billion-dollar investors to the politicians. The signatories include Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, UBS, HSBC and the pension funds ABP and PGGM. The groups are calling for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants. The want to decide soon the German government. When the coal comes, however, is still unclear. 2030, or only much later?
The Coal
The coal in many more of the richer countries puts the brakes on climate protection, which is at this conference so clearly as never before. The Meeting does not take place randomly in the middle of an old mining area. In 80 percent of Poland depends on coal with regard to the energy. Directly in front of the conference building, an old winding tower protrudes in the air. He wanted to remind the 20,000 politicians, Ministers, scientists and environmentalists because of what it is actually, at climate change conferences: the reduction of greenhouse gases.