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26/9/2012: As developed countries and emerging economies evade their responsibility, the UNFCCC climate change process has entered a "deadly stalemate", according to climate advocates Walden Bello and Pablo Solon. Learn how raising our voices, we may get out of it alive.

Deadly stalemateThis is the stalemate: Developed countries refuse to assume their historical responsibility for global GHG emissions, should emerging economies not follow lead. On the other side, emerging economies claim their just right to growth, insisting on "common but differentiated responsibilities". But do China and Congo really share interests? Brazil and Belize? Mexico and Morocco? No.

And this is why it is deadly: China and the US do. In fact, an unambitious UNFCCC agreement in 2020 means profitable business-as-usual.
How to get out of this UNFCCC endgame alive? Amid the Bangkok talks, Bello and Solon warn us that "civil society must regain its independent voice and articulate a position distinct from that of the Group of 77 and China." The authors call for "collective responsibility" in the forthcoming Doha sessions: (1) Developed countries need to assume their historical responsibility. (2) Emerging economies have to commit to less, yet significant, reductions according to their common but differentiated responsibilities. (3) Noteworthy, the authors even call for low-emitting developing countries to show commitment to progress.

Heading the delegation of Bolivia, Solon objected to the 2010 Cancún Accord but his voice was silenced through "majority consensus." For more on how we can make ourselves heard in Doha, learn more:

Pablo Solon, Bangkok Post:
'Why are climate negotiations locked in a stalemate?'

John Parnell, RTCC:
'Time to treat big emerging economies like developed nations, says former Bolivia negotiator'

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Lost? Get your UNFCCC guide!

Accessible yet comprehensive FIELD publication:
Short guide for UNFCCC negotiators

Comprehensive and more technical guide:
UNFCCC Secretariat Guide


General but useful web glossaries:
The RTCC Climate Change A-Z 
The BBC Climate Change Glossary

High 5 @ Climate Negotiations

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