MEXICO CITY-NEW YORK - Is climate change all about curbing greenhouse gas emissions? No, it involves much more, as there is little incentive for any one country to abate emissions merely for the sake of abating emissions.
This is especially true for developing countries, which cannot sacrifice their development, including their poverty eradication goals, for the good of the global environment alone.
The Convention on Climate Change will only be effective if developed and developing countries alike fulfil their shared but differentiated responsibilities in tackling global environmental issues.
The consequences of climate change are being felt throughout the world, but particularly in developing countries, which are less equipped or financially able to manage increasingly frequent and extreme weather events. Thus, climate change adaptation activities must be brought to the forefront.
What is at stake at COP6? The Kyoto Protocol must be ratified by the parliaments of countries that generate at least 55 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions - this means industrialised nations. Decisions made at COP6 will likely encourage or deter their participation in implementing the Protocol.
Developing countries, meanwhile, need support in developing their capacities to respond to climate change, as well as recognition of their diverse forms of vulnerability. They also need incentives to achieve sustainable development, particularly to shift economic growth toward climate-friendly paths.
The declaration of the Millennium Summit (New York, September 2000) supports this response to climate change and encourages the Kyoto Protocol's entry into force by 2002. Time is running out.
Economic trends since the Kyoto conference in 1997 have made certain emissions targets more difficult to achieve - and time to put in place the necessary legislation, institutions and investments is short.
COP6 is expected to adopt several decisions, some of which are key for developing countries, including the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Specifically, these decisions involve capacity building, the development and transfer of technologies, flexible mechanisms and land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are supporting the efforts of developing countries to adequately address the climate change challenges.
The Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean has identified climate change as one of its four priorities and, since 1998, has organised yearly workshops to foment the exchange of ideas on the matter.
For developing countries, climate change abatement activities should contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication as well. The ties between sustainable energy and adaptation activities in all developing countries must be reinforced, with emphasis on the least developed countries and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
UNEP and UNDP jointly promote dialogue on these issues using Tierramérica as a communication platform for the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
