Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 5 • Number 22 • 9th December 2005

Countries Strike Eleventh Hour Deal on Climate Change

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At the first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP-1) on 28 November to 9 December in Montreal, Canada, governments reached what environmental groups called “a historic agreement” on how to tackle climate change in the future. After working through Friday night, delegates adopted the “Montreal Action Plan” which commits industrialised countries to deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, to be agreed by 2012 when the current agreement expires. While the details remain to be hammered out, the agreement was seen as giving new credibility to the Kyoto process. “This is a clear signal that the Kyoto agreement is alive and well,” said Friends of the Earth International Climate Change Campaigner Catherine Pearce.

Parties also approved a series of decisions aimed at simplifying the implementation of the global pact, which was adopted in 1997 but only came into force this year. These include the establishment of a Joint Implementation Supervisory Board, a mechanism that allows industrialised countries to earn carbon allowances by investing in low-emission projects in other developed countries they can count against their own reduction commitments. Delegates also finalised details of the Clean Development Mechanism, a system that similarly rewards them for investing in sustainable development projects in developing countries.

ICTSD reporting: “Conference reaches climate deal,” TORONTO STAR, 20 December 2005; “Kyoto Protocol extended,” GLOBE AND MAIL, 10 December 2005; “Kyoto thrives in Montreal despite last minute game of Russian roulette,” FOEI, 10 December 2005; “Developing countries: pay us to save rainforests,” MONGABAY.COM, 27 November 2005; “Montreal climate conference adopts ‘rule book’ of the Kyoto Protocol,” UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, 30 November 2005; “U.N. talks adopt Kyoto rules on global warming,” REUTERS, 30 November 2005; “Australia says ’son of Kyoto’ deal not possible,” REUTERS, 1 December 2005.