Climate Talks in Geneva: can’t miss the moment!

Climate talks in Geneva began on February 8th gathering all countries to negotiate on climate change. Here countries will make the first draft of the global climate agreement before the next round of talks in June. All this is happening when media are full of news like: 2014 was the hottest year in history of research, largest companies refuse to investment in fossil fuel and energy prices from renewable energy caught up with oil and gas.

It is expected that this week in Geneva countries will streamline the text of climate agreement, which eventually has to be signed at the December meeting in Paris. Global call for complete fossil fuels phase out is gaining momentum and the response to this call should be strengthening this element in the agreement. For example establish global goal for net zero emissions by 2050, as outlined in the final text from the Lima negotiations - «Lima call for climate action». This proposal made by countries such as Norway, Sweden, the Marshall Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru and Panama.

Nearly 90 countries, including Mexico and South Africa, along with institutions such as the World Bank, have teamed up with business voices, including the Rockefeller Foundation to say - Paris Agreement shall be based on the fossil fuels phase out.

Least developed countries want to be sure that the agreement will be built fairly and with appropriate support to share the burden of climate risk management and enable these countries to develop sustainably. Such support should include money and technological capabilities to reduce emissions, create sustainable communities and prepare for the climate change impacts that will leave lasting damages. Countries need to be sure that changing circumstances will be dealt fairly.

Back in capitals, all countries are now preparing their climate action commitments (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions - INDCs) which will form the foundation of the 2015 agreement. The commitments are expected to start rolling in at the end of next month adding to those already put forward by major economies such as the EU, US and China. Collectively, these plans can accelerate the transition away from dirty fossil fuels towards 100% renewable energy, and in doing so, unlock more jobs, better public health and more prosperous economies for the people.

Unfortunately Russia in recent years only reduces its performance. Previously stated goal of reducing energy consumption per GDP unit by 40% to 2020 is unlikely to be achieved. Russian delegation during the national event in Lima announced 2.5% goal of renewable energy in the electricity industry by 2020 rather than previously expected 4.5%. And over the past few years share of the renewable energy even decreased from 0.9 to 0.3%.

Alexander Bedritsky said in his pre-Lima statement that "in order to limit anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions long-term goal in Russia could be 70-75% emissions rate compared to 1990 by 2030," but "... of course the final determination of this indicator will depend on the specific socio-economic development scenarios of the country, taking into account the global political and economic conditions, as well as obligations of the major greenhouse gases emitting countries."
Meanwhile this goal is not officially confirmed at the national level in Russia.