Warsaw Expectations on Climate Change

Climate change is likely the greatest challenge facing humanity this century. In September 27， 2013， the Fifth Assessment Report （AR5） of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC） was issued， which determined that climate change is extremely likely （95-100%） a result of human activity. In the wake of four previous studies， this year’s report compiled data collected by thousands of scientists around the world over the five years since 2008， aiming to provide scientific evidence that could illuminate methods to reverse climate change.

The 19th Conference of the Parties（COP19） to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change（UNFCCC） will be held in Warsaw from November 11 to 22， 2013. Because the global economy remains in a rut for the fifth consecutive year， governments are emphasizing economic growth and prioritizing climate as an afterthought. Only two preliminary meetings were held in 2013 because the Secretariat of the UNFCCC was lacking funds. Negotiations on climate change came to a halt， dropping expectations for COP19 to only a transitional conference. Delegates hope to achieve more consensus based on the Durban Platform and lay a solid foundation for progress to be made at COP21 in Paris in 2015.

COP19 is， however， expected to discuss important issues authorized by COP18 held in Doha last year. In terms of longterm public financing for climate change efforts， the conference will determine the volume of financing in order to steer efforts towards US$100 billion by 2020， improve funding transparency， and resolve allocation of money into the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund. Loss and Damage was one focus of last year’s Doha conference， which is a key issue for developing countries （mainly vulnerable states）. The establishment of a Loss and Damage mechanism remains a dire need， despite previously drawing intense focus at Doha after developing countries’ requests for many years. Another important task is outlining the Durban Platform in tangible text and creating a working process that includes contact groups and clarification of content within the text.

China has already been greatly impacted by climate change. According to one governmental report， climate change will decrease China’s potential output by 20 percent by the end of the century. Accelerated glacial thaw will exacerbate the nation’s water shortage and the domestic water distribution imbalance. The rising sea level will devastate industrial and agricultural production in coastal cities. Natural disasters will occur more frequently and cause more damage.

During climate change negotiations， as the world’s largest developing country， China is becoming more active and ambitious， allying with other developing countries to propose new ideas and plans to address climate change. The nation is cultivating a carbon cap-and-trade market， which is expected to go into effect nationwide by 2020.

One of the planet’s largest carbon emitters， China is a crucial player in global carbon reduction. Over the first two years of the 12th Five-Year Plan， China only reached 32.7 percent of emission reduction targets for the period， leaving major work for the next three years. Also， serious air pollution resulting from rapid development is posing worrisome threats to public health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer （IARC）， a World Health Organization （WHO） agency specializing in cancer， announced on October 17 that it classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic for humans. Beijing was already taking action. On September 12， the State Council of China unveiled Atmospheric Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan， which is considered the country’s strictest-ever policy on air pollution.

Action from the public is one crucial piece of the fight against climate change. Over forty non-governmental organizations have initiated C+， a national campaign calling for enterprises and the public to reduce emissions by saving electricity and water， sorting trash， planting trees and driving less. Such groups are also pushing the public to change consumption habits and be less wasteful.