Louise Gray

Are climate change talks getting dirty?

Warsaw – As reports flood in of devastation in the Philippines,  pressure is growing on ministers attending United Nations talks in Poland to prove that on-going climate change talks are not a waste of money.

While it is impossible to blame a single event on climate change, the World Meteorological Organisation has warned that warming oceans and rising sea levels make the impact of ‘super storms’ like Typhoon Haiyan far worse and, perhaps, more frequent. So, what are our leaders doing about it? Well, 10,106 people have gathered in a football stadium in Warsaw to produce more hot air discussing a global deal to cut emissions.

The annual UN jamboree is not known for being whiter than white when it comes to jumping into bed with the enemy. Last year the meeting was held in Qatar, the most polluting state per head in the world. At least the chaotic meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 was supported by Vestas – a wind turbine company.

This year’s laundry is dirtier than usual. The talks are being sponsored by the world’s biggest steel producer, a coal company, BMW and, umm, Ikea. The huge stadium (wreathed in red, green and silver lights at night) is powered by coal, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of Poland’s electricity generation.

The cost is estimated to be more than 30m euros. The UK alone is sending 40 people (including two ministers) – although at least we are offsetting our flights. The Polish Government claim they are planting 9,000 trees to ‘offset’ the carbon footprint of the conference but don’t seem particularly committed to cutting fossil fuels. Poland has frequently blocked the EU’s efforts to up the renewable energy target for 2020 from 20 to 30 per cent and is planning to double the size of one its major coal plants next year. The Prime Minister is having talks about “clean coal” and even considering expanding its use. This is despite the fact that PriceWaterHouseCoopers say Europe could run all its electricity on renewables by 2050.

This weekend the big players from the World Coal Association will roll in into Warsaw for their annual International Coal and Climate Summit.

Already anger is growing in Warszawa Stadion. Every morning stony faced protesters hold up photos of the Arctic 30, currently languishing in jail for a Greenpeace protest against drilling for oil in the pristine Poles.Youth groups prowl the corridors carrying banners, perform colourful stunts outside meeting rooms and finally burst into tears in pure frustration.

It is easy to dismiss the voice of youth as naïve; but they have been motivated by the recent IPCC report, which warned that unless action is taken before 2020 the world faces climate calamity within 30 years. The World Bank has warned that a temperature increase above 2C will mean floods, droughts and more extreme weather events. And even the International Energy Agency agrees that two thirds of fossil fuels should be left in the ground if the temperature increase is to stay within safe limits.

The most mature voices – all the surviving diplomats who have chaired the meetings – are in despair at the lack of progress. Meanwhile, the angriest voices are the delegates from small island states and countries like the Philippines, who not only want emissions cut but payments by rich countries for the ‘loss and damage’ caused by climate change. The lead negotiator for the Philippines has been joined in a hunger strike from activists around the world. Yeb Sano says that he will not eat until action is taken to move towards a global deal by 2015 and to provide funding for the worst hit.

In the opinion of many, the fight for action on climate change is not yet dirty enough.

Louise Gray is a freelance environmental journalist. She tweets @loubgray.

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