COP 21: new text marks countdown to final agreement

Mohamed Adow

Negotiators at the Paris Climate Talks (COP21) issued a new preliminary draft today, which Christian Aid Senior Climate Advisor, Mohamed Adow finds encouraging. He said: "The new Paris Outcomes text represents good progress. It is much cleaner and presents clear options to help ministers get tougher and resolve the sticky issues.

"Lots of brackets have been taken out and the substance is progressing. In particular, progress has been made on climate adaptation and capacity building. But still more attention needs to be given to adaptation finance to give effective support to the most vulnerable countries.

"The next 24 hours are critical. This is where the real negotiations will begin. We really need countries to fight to keep in the high ambition options on climate finance, the long term decarbonisation goal and a ratchet mechanism to ensure the agreement evolves to meet the needs of a changing world."

Mr Adow also welcomed the announcement earlier today by the US that it would be doubling its adaption funding. He said: "It is welcome to see rich countries at these talks stepping forward to provide practical support which will make a real difference to some of the poorest people facing droughts, floods, sea level rise and extreme weather events.

"This shows that countries are engaging with each other and rich nations are listening to the needs of the poorest. Starting to deliver on previous finance commitments will build trust between countries at this crucial juncture. This will hopefully now start a snowball effect with other rich countries potentially following suit."

Source: Christian Aid

See also: ICN 8 December 2015 - Pope Francis has endorsed the Catholic Climate Petition, have you?
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