UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Preamble and Notes

I’ve just started a Masters of Environment, so I am going to share with you what I am learning, together we will learn about what is happening. I will also be posting poetry as it provides the wisdom from which to view events. The reports and analysis will provide insights into the way we are thinking about these events.

Below I will provide truncated notes on the preamble to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Then I will post the actual document underneath.

I have provided truncated paraphrasing with my response in brackets. I am intrigued by the words used in the document, such as: acknowledgement, concern, uncertainties, recalling, noting, conscious, global call, implement, recognise, determined etc. The challenge is translating the UN language into what is really being said. I can feel the diplomatic language and the reality that the nation states hold the power, particularly the developed nations. So the UN appears to suggest and remind them to remember their obligations, it appears they cannot be forced. As an outsider looking in I see this is a clear problem raised as urgent and that action needs to be taken cooperatively but fully, as this is a global issue. I will put the actual Framework beneath my notes. So my first foray into the wordy world of politics and climate change, hold my nose and jump I guess:

*Acknowledgement of change in the earths climate (climate is changing)
*Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases …warming the earth’s surface and atmosphere…adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind (human impact)
*Largest emissions developed countries, developing low emissions (lifestyle, wealth)
*Terrestrial and marine ecosystems sinks and reservoirs greenhouse gases (C02 vaults)
*Many uncertainties in prediction of climate change (complex system)
*Global call is cooperation
*Recalling pertinent provisions of the Declaration of UN Conference on the Human Enviroment, adopted at Stockholm 1972 (provisions ignored)
*States have rights to exploit resources and responsibility to ensure activities don’t cause damage or areas beyond (exploiting is damage?)
*Principle of sovereignty of Nation States in cooperation to address climate change (global problem)
*Nations should enact environmental legislation, standards inappropriate for some countries of unwarranted economic and social costs (developed could cross subsidise poorer, global standards)
*Recalling UN Resolutions to protect global climate for present/future generations (provisions not rule of law, call to conscience)
*Recalling provisions of adverse effects of sea level rise on island and coastal areas (low lying). Implement Plan of Action to combat desertification (not enforced, not acting)
*Recalling Vienna Convention protection of Ozone and Montreal Protocol.
*Noting Ministerial Declaration of the Second World Climate Conference (power with nation states)
*Conscious of valuable analytical work conducted by States, UN Bodies, international/intergovernmental bodies exchange scientific results (exchange information, leadership comes to mind)
*Recognizing the steps to understand and address climate change, environmentally, socially, economically effective (social change)
*Recognising actions to address climate change justified economically (need ecological paradigm)
*Recognising the need for developing countries to take into account all greenhouse gases (suggests they are not)
*Recognising vulnerable low lying countries, developing countries with fragile moutainous ecosystems more affected
*Recognising special difficulties of developing countries dependent on fossil fuel production (energy exporters, economic collapse)
*Affirming responses to climate change coordinated with social and economic development avoid adverse impacts on latter taking full account priority of developing countries for sustained economic growth and poverty eradication (development in what way?)
*Recognising all countries especially developing countries need access to resources for economic development, energy consumption will need to grow, application of new technologies economically and socially beneficial. (economic paradigm linked to social benefit, economic seen as pathway out of poverty to prosperity).
Determined to protect climate system for present and future generation (how determined? are we living in harmony with natural system?).

I feel it is not about sounding right, we are challenge to get it right and what this means is problem definition. The economic paradigm is a reality the nation states are dealing with and is considered the foundation of social stability, however, this is a significant activity causing climate change and if we drill down further, it is our addiction to a materialist lifestyle that is the real issue. Beyond that, we are seeking happiness. That is not mentioned, however the need for sustainable economic growth is. Perhaps we need to start to question the fundamentals and with curiosity look for other pathways that meet the real needs of humankind in harmony with the planet (Gaia). Just thoughts, I am open to other ideas.

Here is the actual Framework without my notes:

UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The Parties to this Convention,

Acknowledging that change in the Earth’s climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind,

Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result on average in an additional warming of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere and may adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind,

Noting that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs,

Aware of the role and importance in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases,

Noting that there are many uncertainties in predictions of climate change, particularly with regard to the timing, magnitude and regional patterns thereof,

Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,

Recalling the pertinent provisions of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16 June 1972,

Recalling also that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,

Reaffirming the principle of sovereignty of States in international cooperation to address climate change,

Recognizing that States should enact effective environmental legislation, that environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and developmental context to which they apply, and that standards applied by some countries
may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular developing countries,

Recalling the provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/228 of 22 December 1989 on the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and resolutions 43/53 of 6 December 1988, 44/207 of 22 December 1989, 45/212 of 21 December 1990 and 46/169
of 19 December 1991 on protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind,

Recalling also the provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/206 of
22 December 1989 on the possible adverse effects of sea-level rise on islands and coastal areas, particularly low-lying coastal areas and the pertinent provisions of General Assembly resolution 44/172 of 19 December 1989 on the implementation of the Plan of Action to
Combat Desertification,

Recalling further the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, 1985, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987, as adjusted and amended on 29 June 1990,

Noting the Ministerial Declaration of the Second World Climate Conference adopted on 7 November 1990,

Conscious of the valuable analytical work being conducted by many States on climate change and of the important contributions of the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and other organs, organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system, as well as other international and intergovernmental bodies, to the exchange of results of scientific research and the coordination of research,

Recognizing that steps required to understand and address climate change will be environmentally, socially and economically most effective if they are based on relevant scientific, technical and economic considerations and continually re-evaluated in the light of
new findings in these areas,

Recognizing that various actions to address climate change can be justified economically in their own right and can also help in solving other environmental problems,

Recognizing also the need for developed countries to take immediate action in a flexible manner on the basis of clear priorities, as a first step towards comprehensive response strategies at the global, national and, where agreed, regional levels that take into account all greenhouse gases, with due consideration of their relative contributions to the enhancement of the greenhouse effect,

Recognizing further that low-lying and other small island countries, countries with low-lying coastal, arid and semi-arid areas or areas liable to floods, drought and desertification, and developing countries with fragile mountainous ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change,

Recognizing the special difficulties of those countries, especially developing countries, whose economies are particularly dependent on fossil fuel production, use and exportation, as a consequence of action taken on limiting greenhouse gas emissions,

Affirming that responses to climate change should be coordinated with social and economic development in an integrated manner with a view to avoiding adverse impacts on the latter, taking into full account the legitimate priority needs of developing countries for the
achievement of sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty,

Recognizing that all countries, especially developing countries, need access to resources required to achieve sustainable social and economic development and that, in order for developing countries to progress towards that goal, their energy consumption will need to grow
taking into account the possibilities for achieving greater energy efficiency and for controlling greenhouse gas emissions in general, including through the application of new technologies on
terms which make such an application economically and socially beneficial,

Determined to protect the climate system for present and future generations.

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf