Will the COP18 in Doha deliver a 2015 global climate deal?

The United Nations climate change conference next week in Doha, Qatar must start the hard work of turning last year's agreement to enhance global climate action into reality.

Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, said: "Doha must build on the breakthrough we achieved in Durban and make progress in preparation of the 2015 legally binding global climate agreement. Equally important will be agreeing on further measures to reduce emissions so we can stay below a 2°C increase. The EU stands by our commitments to participate in a second period of the Kyoto Protocol and to continue providing major financial support to help developing countries tackle climate change. The context for Doha is the recent World Bank report and the UNEP emissions gap report which make it abundantly clear that the world is losing precious time."

The European Union wants an outcome that takes forward all elements of the package of decisions agreed in Durban towards a new global climate agreement by 2015. The EU has also asked the Qatari Presidency to hold ministerial discussions to agree on concrete measures to cut global emissions further before 2020. The EU stands firmly by its part of the deal struck in Durban and its commitment to participate in a second period of the Kyoto Protocol.

The EU is the world’s largest donor of official development assistance and of climate finance to developing countries. In Doha the EU will show it is on track to deliver the full €7.2 billion in 'fast start' climate finance it has pledged for the period 2010-2012. The EU will also discuss with its developing country partners how major flows of EU climate finance can continue in 2013-2014 and beyond.

Richard Ball, Head of Environment, Corporate Risk Systems commented “Climate Change is upon us, it is upto Governments to agree goals, organisations to drive changes and individuals to take action, if the magnitude and effects of change is to be minimised and mitigated.  Action on Carbon and Energy is the business issue that will be here long after the economic down turn.”

In its annual Emissions Gap Report  UNEP said that countries' existing emission pledges, if fully implemented, will help reduce emissions to below the business-as-usual level in 2020, but not to a level consistent with the agreed 2°C limit, and so will lead to a considerable “emissions gap”.

In its report "Turn down the heat" the World Bank spells out what the world would look like if it warmed by 4 degrees Celsius. The report says that finding ways to avoid that scenario is vital for the health and welfare of communities around the world.