Talk with
A new general understanding
Jochen Harnisch about the UN Climate Conference
Climate Change Policy Coordinator Jochen Harnisch. Source: KfW / Photographer: Thomas Klewar
After an additional day of negotiations, the representatives of 194 countries adopted a several hundred page package at the UN climate conference in Durban.
Together with about 120 countries, the EU pushed through a timetable for a global climate change agreement that also includes the commitment of the USA, China and India. It is to be developed by 2015 and go into force in 2020. While the negotiating parties were satisfied with the results of the marathon summit, environmental protection and development organisations also expressed criticism.
In your view, what are the main results from Durban?
Jochen Harnisch: Important technical progress was achieved in terms of adaptation and technology transfer. The Green Climate Fund can continue to support developing countries in climate protection efforts and adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, there is a new general understanding that all countries are in the same boat, where industrialising countries just as all industrialised countries must commit to a new climate treaty for the period starting in 2020. That is probably the maximum that could currently be achieved politically by the EU. Nevertheless, this will by far not be enough to limit global warming to two degrees.
What particularly surprised you at the conference?
Jochen Harnisch: After the tough negotiations it was almost surprising that ultimately the parties succeeded in finding a consensus between the 194 very different countries. In the medium term, apparently China, Brazil, South Africa and maybe even the USA and India will have more flexibility to commit themselves to climate protection under international law than was the case even just a few months ago.
How important are these results for the work of KfW Entwicklungsbank and other development banks?
Jochen Harnisch: It is of course pleasing that after the summit from Durban schemes for structuring common global climate policy in the future are emerging. At the same time it is clear that for the next five to ten years, the impetus for necessary action will not come from the international level. Instead, voluntary national policy programmes of the large industrialising and industrialised nations will be decisive for pushing progress in climate protection. In this regard KfW, together with the big national and bilateral development banks in other countries, holds more responsibility than was foreseeable even recently. This makes the successful arrangement of our development bank network IDFC with 19 development banks from around the world all the more important.
You are also active in a leading position of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). What do you take away from Durban for your work?
Jochen Harnisch: The creation of the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC, which we began in 2011, is taking place in a highly politicised environment. This combined with the high expectations is a good incentive for the author teams to really give their best. However, exhausting commenting processes are also to be expected, which in part go beyond scientific questions.
What is now particularly important?
Jochen Harnisch: We cannot wait until 2020 to protect the climate and adapt to climate change. Already now we must strengthen all our efforts. Europe and Germany are also called upon to develop ambitious and credible national and international strategies. In this regard we must much more clearly explain why political requirements and international promotional programmes make sense even without binding global reduction targets. This can be for example positive effects on employment, improved security of supply and increased local environmental quality in Germany and in partner countries alike.
Jochen Harnisch was interviewed by Felicitas Birckenbach.
Further Information
KfW Entwicklungbsbank in Durban
Monday, 12. December 2011
