With the next round of formal UN climate change negotiations to be held at Bonn, Germany on April 9^th thru 11^th, this is the right time to review the Copenhagen Accord and update about its current situation.

In the Copenhagen Accord, the document passed the delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) on December 18^th 2009. The delegates agreed to these key principles:

·         States recognize the importance of “low-emission development strategy” to sustainable development and understand that social and economic development as well as poverty reduction are the first priority for developing countries

·         Developed countries commit to provide financial resources, technology and capacity building to developing countries for implementation of adaptation action;

o    Developed countries commit to provide $30 billion dollars for forestry and investment for 2010.

o    For mitigation actions and implementation transparency, developed countries commit to mobilize $100 billion dollars through the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, which will be established as an operating entity by the year of 2020.

·         Annex I countries commit to implement emissions targets for 2020 and also to be measured, reported and verified on implementation of reductions and financing.

·         Non-Annex I countries will implement mitigation actions by January 31, 2010. For Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, they may take voluntary mitigation actions.

·         A mechanism of emission reduction from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) should be established immediately with positive incentives provided.

·         Developing countries with low emitting economies should be provided with incentives, including market approach and cost-effective actions, to continue to develop low emission economy.

·         The assessment report of the implementation of the Copenhagen Accord should be completed by 2015.

The Copenhagen Accord is both a success and a failure. From one perspective, with the Accord, developed countries promised to provide more financial resources to developing countries and promised to commit to a vague target of emission reduction. On the other hand, the Copenhagen Accord is a not a legally binding agreement, and it is toothless (no punishment for countries that do not follow the Accord).  Instead of using “adopt”, the UNCCC uses the language of “taking note” of the Accord. The language gives states the freedom to sign the Accord or not.[1]

On March 9^th 2010, China and India, two of the largest growing emitters, joined the Copenhagen Accord to be listed as “parties” to the Accord.[2] While the U.S. proposed to “set aside some of the existing UN texts”, China and India stood firmly by the UN climate framework. The Environmental  Secretary of India, Rajani Ranjan Rashmi said, “The Accord is not a new track of negotiations or a template for outcomes.”[3] India’s position is back by the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiaboa, who said that to start a new negotiating process outside the UN framework is neither viable nor acceptable. Wen went further by reaffirming that China “highly commends and supports” the Copenhagen Accord.[4]  Currently, the Accord is supported by 31 countries, including some from the Least Developed Countries (ie. Lesotho), the Alliance of Small Island States (ie. Grenada), and the African Union.[5]