Poznan Climate Negotiations Underway

From December 1 - 12, nearly 11,000 representatives from 192 countries are meeting in Poznan, Poland, for the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 12-day negotiation will lay the groundwork for an international agreement to follow the Kyoto Protocol (post-2012) and acts as the halfway point between the 2007 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, and the December 2009 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

While much of the world's attention is focused on the current economic crisis, early signs suggest world leaders are ready to make significant strides towards combating climate change. China has pledged to do its part to reduce emissions, and President-elect Barack Obama has outlined ambitious goals to cut emissions, despite his absence in Poznan. "We're out of the starting gate," said UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer. "We're off, and the work is progressing . . . my sense is that governments are keen to move things forward." Some goals of the conference include determining each country's level of commitment, how to transfer technology and funds to developing countries, and how to create finance, technology and capacity-building institutions. Some opposition is expected from countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels for their energy supply, but de Boer warned that the world will risk a second financial crisis if countries do not act immediately.

The US Delegation will be led by Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky. James L. Connaughton, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Victor Ashe, US Ambassador to Poland, will attend the high-level meetings at the conference on December 11-12. Other members of the delegation include Special Envoy to the UNFCCC Harlan Watson and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment and Sustainable Development Daniel Reifsnyder. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will also attend, along with other representatives from the Congress, Department of Agriculture, the Agency for International Development, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Treasury Department, and the National Security Council.