Vom 24. bis 25. Oktober haben sich die Staats- und Regierungschefs von 16 asiatischen und 27 europäischen Staaten sowie der Präsident der Europäischen Kommission und der Chef des ASEAN-Sekretariats zum 7. Asien-Europa-Treffen (ASEM) in Peking getroffen und im Anschluss an das zweitägige Treffen eine Erklärung zur Nachhaltigen Entwicklung (Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development) verabschiedet, die einige wichtige Passagen zur Klima- und Energiepolitik enthält. Dies ist vor allem interessant, da das Gipfeltreffen allgemein als Schulterschluss Europas mit Asiens und sichtbares Zeichen an die USA gewertet wurde. Doch wie sieht es aus mit europäisch-asiatischen Lösungen zur Klimakrise? Wie soll die Welt ohne die USA regiert werden? Ich zitiere im Folgenden Passagen aus der Erklärung (kursiv) und kommentiere sie auch (Hervorhebungen durch mich).
II. Climate Change and Energy Security
12. We reaffirm that the issue of climate change should be dealt with within the framework of sustainable development. We reaffirm that in order to achieve sustainable development, it will be necessary to combat global climate change in accordance with the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We recognize the importance of the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in particular its fourth Assessment Report.
Hier also nichts Neues. Das kennen wir schon. Weniger wäre auch peinlich gewesen.
13. We emphasize that the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol are the main channels for international negotiations and cooperation in climate change, reaffirm the commitment to the objectives, purposes and principles of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, particularly the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. We recognize that ASEM partners share a mutual commitment to finding a long-term multilateral solution to climate change under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol framework. We welcome the decisions of the Bali Action Plan, containing all the elements for an ambitious, effective and comprehensive agreed outcome for long term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012 for strengthening international cooperation on addressing climate change and are committed to the completion of negotiations by 2009.
Auch hier: Weniger ging nicht. Beruhigend, das nochmal bestätigt zu bekommen. Doch wo bleibt die gemeinsame Vision?
14. Recognizing the importance of tackling climate change, we affirm that developed countries should continue to show strong leadership and take measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments, including quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, including through sectoral approach, where appropriate, as a tool to implement them, and provide financial support and technology transfer to developing countries. Developing countries will take nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development, supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity-building, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner, with a view to achieving a deviation from business as usual emissions.
Das ist nun wichtig, denn genau darum wird ja aktuell noch gestritten. 1. Was genau müssen „developed countries“ tun? Hier klingt es so, als könnten das verbindliche Reduktionsziele sein, müssten es aber nicht. Dabei ist die EU doch da schon weiter und die USA saß gar nicht mit am Tisch… Die „developing countries“ fordern den Finanz- und Technologietransfer und streben eine Abweichung vom Business as Usual an. Hier gibt es das allgemeine Problem, das eine solche Abweichung eventuell nur schwer nachweisbar wird, wenn das Business as Usual Szenario nicht klar ist. Die wichtigsten Fragen aber werden gemieden: Wie sieht es mit Reduktionszielen für China aus? Was tun diejenigen asiatischen Länder, die im Vergleich mit vielen osteuropäischen Staaten sehr reich sind?
15. We highlight the need for a shared vision for long term cooperative action, including a long term global goal for emission reductions, to achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention and to enable its full effective and sustained implementation, in accordance with the provisions and principles of the Convention, in particular, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and taking into account economic and social conditions and relevant other factors. We further stress that, for this shared vision to be credible, it requires all developed countries to take the lead by committing to ambitious and comparable legally binding emission reduction targets. We call upon the international community to consider most ambitious set of targets reflected in the 4th Assessment Report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
Wichtig ist, dass die vision ein Ziel für langfristige (sprich: für 2050) globale Emissionsreduktionen enthalten soll. Aber das ist eben nicht alles. Das funktioniert nur, wenn sie auch gleichzeitig sagt, was das an Finanzierung und Technologie für den Süden bedeutet.
16. We recognize that actions to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and to enhance carbon sinks through the promotion of afforestation and reforestation, sustainable forest management, sound land use and sustainable production and consumption patterns and appropriate measures against illegal logging and associated trade, can make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gases emission and to preserving biological diversity. We also reaffirm our support of the
decisions taken in Bali for achieving policy approaches and positive incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.
Da steckt wenig Konkretes drin. Keine Antwort auf die Frage der Finanzierung (Carbon Market oder Funds) . Siehe dazu auch hier.
17. Recognizing that adaptation to climate change is vital to address the effects of inevitable climate change and adverse impacts of climate change that affect all countries, especially developing countries, and in particular the least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing countries, we emphasize that ASEM partners should work together in accordance with their UNFCCC commitments to strengthen the ability of developing countries to adapt to climate change, including vulnerability assessment, prioritization and implementation of adaptation actions, financial needs assessments, technical assistance, capacity-building, risk management and strategies, and mainstreaming adaptation into development policies and strategies.
Gerade hier hätte man eine konkretere Vereinbarung zwischen EU und den asiatischen Entwicklungsländern erwarten können. Was genau sind die jeweiligen Commitments und Verpflichtungen? Wie sieht das Mainstreaming aus? Welche Finanzen werden fließen und wofür?
18. We affirm the critical role of technology, the need for technological cooperation and technology transfer to developing countries. We will work together on technology cooperation in specific economic sectors, promote the exchange of mitigation information and analysis on sectoral efficiency, the identification of national technology needs and voluntary, action-oriented international cooperation, and consider the role of cooperative sectoral approaches and sector-specific actions, consistent with the Convention. We urge enhanced action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation, to accelerate development, deployment, diffusion, dissemination and transfer of affordable technologies for adaptation and mitigation. We welcome cooperation on research, development, demonstration and deployment of current, new and innovative clean technology, including win-win solutions. We stress that technology cooperation with and transfer to developing countries is a key enabling condition for them to tackle climate change.
Hier wird die Bedeutung des Themas für Länder wie China und Indien deutlich, denn der Absatz ist erstaunlich konkret und klar. Es wird auch nicht nur von Technologietransfer gesprochen, sondern von „development, deployment, diffusion, dissemination“ sowohl für Mitigation als auch für Adaptation. Es bleibt zu erwarten, wie sich die EU hinsichtlich Intellectual Property Rights (Patente) bei den entscheidenden Technologien tatsächlich verhalten wird.
19. Noting that addressing climate change requires greater mobilization of public and private financial resources, both domestically and internationally, we support efforts to scale up financial support to developing countries. We also support the creation of incentives for the developing countries to enhance implementation of national mitigation and adaptation strategies and action, and to promote public and private sector funding and investment.
Tja, aber wer soll zahlen und wieviel? Wie sieht das alles in Zeiten einer Finanzmarkt- und Wirtschaftskrise aus? Hier hält sich die EU verständlicherweise sehr bedeckt.
20. Noting with serious concern that the extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have inflicted immense loss of life and property on ASEM members, we call on all partners to implement the decisions made at ASEM 6 by strengthening information exchange systems on natural disaster management and exploring the possibility of establishing early warning mechanisms.
21. We underline the need to act with resolve and urgency during the Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland, in 2008 and work towards an ambitious, effective and comprehensive agreed outcome for long term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012 at the Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark at the end of 2009.
22. We recognize that climate change is interrelated with energy and should be addressed in integrated manner, with full consideration of the issues of safeguarding energy security, improving energy mix and raising energy efficiency and saving. We support the further exploration of a safe and sustainable low-carbon development path and its integration into sustainable development policies.
Hier darf man mit Spannung das Erscheinen des World Energy Outlook 2008 der IEA erwarten…
23. We reaffirm that energy security is closely related to the stable growth of world economy and sustainable development of all nations, and emphasize that each nation has the right to promote its own development by fully utilizing energy and resources in a sustainable way, while taking into account the carrying capacity of ecosystems and the protection of regional environment. We encourage ASEM partners to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in development and utilization of energy and make contribution to safeguarding global energy security. We welcome the convening of the first ASEM Ministerial Meeting on Energy Security that will take place in Brussels in the first half of 2009. We also welcome the convening of the follow-up to the Jeddah Summit on Energy Security in London in December 2008.
Daraus lässt sich einerseits die Sorge der Asiaten ablesen, dass ein Klimaregime ihr Recht auf wirtschaftliche Entwicklung einengen könnte, wenn es ihnen die Emissionen verbietet, die der Westen zum Wachstum benötigt hat. Andererseits spricht die Erklärung hier von nachhaltiger Nutzung. Leider wird das nicht spezifiziert.
24. We call for diversification, sustainability and security of sources of energy supply.
25. We call upon all members to improve energy savings and efficiency, optimize energy consumption structure, develop and utilize renewable and clean energy, including sustainable biofuels while not affecting food security or causing environmental damage and promote transfer, deployment and dissemination of advanced environmentally sound energy technology to developing partners.
26. We stress the need to combine energy cooperation with poverty reduction and environmental protection, to help developing countries, especially the LDCs strengthen infrastructure development, reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development by increasing their access to energy. We recognize the importance of strengthening the role of UNEP in environmental protection.
Aber wie genau erreicht man global nachhaltige Entwicklung durch Verbesserung des Zugangs zu Energie, ohne die Klimasicherheit zu gefährden? Genau hierauf versucht das Greenhouse Development Rights Framework eine Antwort zu geben.
27. Sharing serious concerns over the evolution and current level of oil prices, we stress that joint efforts should be made by all partners to contribute to the stability, transparency and predictability of oil markets.
Die Intransparenz der Ölmärkte und unser Unwissen über die tatsächlichen Ölreserven ist ein großes Problem. Zum Thema Peak Oil und Klimawandel empfehle ich die Lektüre des Papiers „A Failure of Leadership“ sowie die Seite der Energy Watch Group.