WINNERS FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5

THIRD PRIZE: EU
The European Union wins the third prize for explicitly endorsing the existing Global Environmental Facility modalities in the Contact Group on the Adaptation Fund, despite serious concerns by developing countries that the governance of the Fund reinforces global inequality. Indeed, the Africa Group has clearly stated that existing GEF and World Bank procedures are not acceptable for governing the Fund, which must move very large sums of money to enable Adaptation.

The EU should be encouraging engagement and leadership amongst Parties of the G77 & China, supporting unconditional support for adaptation. Instead, the EU took the side of continued control by wealthy countries of the system charged with helping the most endangered countries adapt to climate change.

SECOND PRIZE: JAPAN
Second prize goes to Japan for complaining in the COP/MOP plenary that the “key technologies” carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and nuclear energy are not included in the CDM. Nuclear energy has amply proven itself to be one of the most dangerous technologies ever and without appropriate safeguards, certainty and establishment of a strong regulatory framework to minimise risks and liabilities to future generations and the environment, CCS could compromise the sustainable development objectives of CDM.

FIRST PRIZE: SAUDI ARABIA
First prize goes to Saudi Arabia for a long and rambling intervention in the COP this morning on the article 9 review for, firstly, complaining that the protocol has an unfair focus on C02 (and then called for prioritisation of CCS, which is concentrated on C02). And secondly, for saying that article 9 “should not attach an economic element to the noble cause of fighting climate change”—when for years, Saudi Arabia have been trying to undermine the fight against climate change specifically by campaigning by alleging adverse economic effects!