Discussions over the Kyoto Protocol track of the United Nations climate change negotiations resumed today (4 November) in Barcelona after a group of 55 African nations ended a day-long boycott of talks.

 

The countries involved had said they wanted industrialised nations to show willingness to sign up to more ambitious emission targets.

After a plenary meeting held on the evening of 3 November, it was agreed that 60% of the time would be devoted to discussions on developed country targets.

 

The African Group had stated that they expected developed countries to clarify their offers on the table by stating what proportion was domestic action, what came from international offsets and how much was accounted for by land use change and forestry.

 

The position won support from other developing countries who expressed sympathy for African Group concerns, particularly on the need for developed countries to show more ambition. The UK yesterday expressed sympathies with the concerns of the Africa group and has said that it welcomes the willingness of the parties involved to achieve the objectives of the meetings.

 

However, the African Group warned that it was prepared to repeat the boycott unless industrialised nations showed willingness to sign up to more ambitious emission targets. Pa Ousman Jarju from the Gambian delegation warned that 'failure ... in [Wednesday’s] discussions will give us no option but a suspension'.

Related links

African nations end Copenhagen talks