Before today’s end of the UN Climate Change Conference in Poland, negotiators, negotiators, ministers and ministers have been discussing draft texts into the night. Central issues remained unresolved until shortly before the end.
The Polish presidency of the Katowice conference had recently even put an extension into play. The meeting of the 196 states and the EU has been running for almost two weeks.
Controversy over longer-term commitments
One of the objectives is a set of rules for the practical implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. At that time, it was agreed that global warming should be limited to less than two degrees compared to pre-industrial times, if possible even to 1.5 degrees. The promised measures of the states are far from sufficient.
One conflict at the conference is that the poorer and most affected by climate change countries want reliable and longer-term financial pledges. They also demand a publicly visible recognition of the damage caused by climate change impacts such as heat, drought and flooding. It also argues about a clear commitment to the 1.5-degree target, which would require a radical change of direction.
