By Bamidele Oni
As the day draws closer, so the expectations are rising from every concerned quarter of the planet.
The time is now to build on the schematics that have been drawn all through the year in drafts and popular opinions; the actual moment to set the platform for the most assured common progress of transitioning from the traditional fossil fuel based economies to the more suitable renewable energy-fueled future.
The climate negotiations will soon be resumed and this time around, it is globally assumed to take off on a different momentum of all seriousness and possibly birth a definitive way forward.
Reasons are quite reflective in the happenings that marked the year as a promising one- the drawn statement from the G7 meeting earlier in the year that projected boldly on the 100% transition to renewable energy and the introduction of the intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) as expected from every country of the world with respect to individual efforts to ease up on the negotiations in Paris.
It has rather been a bold and decisive initiative as 56 countries have so far submitted their respective contributions and these represent all together 60% of the global emissions, slightly above average but sadly with low commitments to emission cuts. However, many countries are still holding back from submitting their respective contributions, most especially the emerging economies of Brazil, South Africa and India and while some still retain their usual position of opposition- Australia, Japan and Canada.
To make a progress as to what the climate negotiations will look like in Paris and the outlook of the new deal to be signed, a supporting meeting has begun in Bonn, Germany. This will attract a level of negotiations that would look into the intended nationally determined contribution submitted so far and with a focus of ensuring the all are framed within the scope of achieving the long term objective of the new treaty which is majorly in the view of phasing out fossil fuel and keep the temperature in check below the internationally agreed 2C.
Perharps the world leaders’ meeting coming up in some few weeks from now in New York would provide a good test just in time before the signing of the new climate deal later in Paris.
As it has become more affirmed of the nexus between climate change and poverty related issue, it only seems more natural to link the success of the transitioning of the MDGs to the SDGs to the potential success of the Paris 2015 climate conference.
However, since both meetings both share some link in the area of objectives, the most favourable outcomes for both engagements should be nothing other than positive. The failure of one would go a long way into affecting whatever potentials the other might portray and the world, from every point of reasoning is quite at a point when some positive development is really of a dire need.
The intended nationally determined contributions in a way has helped to expose to the public, each country’s scale of seriousness towards the fight against climate change and the potential success of the new climate treaty.
This has rather become a good standing point for concerned individuals, organizations and advocates in mobilizing every possible tool in pressurising concerned governments in living up to the global expectations. It is however commendable of some smaller and poorer countries that have made remarkable moves in their respective commitments and contributions, in every way they have proven a bigger status in the common interest of saving the planet while of course many of these nations have contributed in lesser proportion to the global emissions.
In Africa, still, the biggest greenhouse gas emitting nation in West Africa, Nigeria, is yet to submit a draft in response to the call for the intended nationally determined contribution. While the country has come a long way in being part of the Kyoto treaty and a staunch attendee of the climate meetings, it is only a wonder why it has taken this long for the country to produce the draft in support of the new climate treaty.
Nigeria must live up to the expectations as a big brother nation on the continent and while preparing the INDC draft, a lot of consideration should be given to the inclusion of feasible and workable commitments which would fit the necessary criteria of national policy implementation. The draft should reflect more on the means to curbing the incessant gas flaring and measures to supporting communal climate change adaptation strategies.
The commitments so far from the INDC have not been entirely encouraging and time is obviously not our side any longer, getting an ambitious deal in Paris is about the only outcome that would ascertain the sanity of humanity, else one would wonder when we would ever come to our senses.
Closing with a quote from president Obama “we are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation to do something”
Oni writes from Abeokuta, NIgeria
