Sara:
I am heading back to the UK later today. I will be sad to miss the last full day of this hopefully historic negotiation in Bali.
As I prepare to leave I am a little more hopeful of a positive outcome than I was two days ago. This morning’s news from the negotiating chambers dotted around this massive complex was much-improved. Positive proposals to help poor countries adapt to climate change were back. However, as we know, all this can start to unravel in the blink of an eye.
For example, the US is still playing games that could yet derail real progress. On the issue of the transfer of clean technology to the developing world, they are refusing to consider some way round intellectual property rights for this technology, much of which would presumably come from the US private sector (this echoes the long battle to get anti-retroviral drugs to Africa). There is also widespread concern here that the US is attempting to undermine the UN process in favour of its own Major Economies Meeting.
Meanwhile negotiators and ministers are locked in continual discussion, debate and wrangling. But the last word today should go to the daily NGO newsletter ECO, which, as I pack my bags put it all in context for me: “Outside the luxurious surroundings of the Bali climate negotiations, with its leisurely ministerial receptions overflowing with food, drink and talk of leadership, there is a real world. Carbon Dioxide emissions and concentrations are rising faster than ever. Droughts are worsening. Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than was believed possible...”
The next 36 hours will indicate whether there is a will to find a way...