The world finally has a universal climate accord

As French Foreign Minister – and COP21 President – Laurent Fabius pounded the gavel, signifying its adoption, the plenary halls at Le Bourget erupted with unmitigated joy. Hundreds of delegates from 195 countries – including United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres and Secretary General Ban Ki Moon – cheered, pumping their fists into the air, embracing, and wiping away tears.

The atmosphere was one of relief, and near disbelief.

It has been a long road to Paris, and after the disappointment of the failed Copenhagen talks in 2009, the multilateral negotiations process has been riddled with much cynicism.

Addressing an earlier plenary to introduce the text, Fabius quoted former South African president Nelson Mandela. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Indeed, the accord contains a number of elements that, two weeks ago, observers might have described as improbably ambitious.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to “well below” two degrees Celsius, with a promise of “efforts” to try to keep it below 1.5 degrees Celsius; a much tougher ambition than what was agreed to six years ago in Copenhagen.

It includes a five-yearly global “stocktake” of how countries are doing with their climate plans, with the first set to happen in 2023. There is also a request for countries to revisit their voluntary domestic plans for emissions cuts in 2018, before they come into effect after 2020.

The accord also specifically mentions “loss and damage”, a reference to the devastation wrought by climate change, despite attempts to adapt to its impacts, and speaks of support for the countries who will suffer. But it “does not involve or provide a basis for any liability or compensation” – a red line for the United States.

The final version of the text was released mid-afternoon on Saturday, with no square brackets – or options – remaining. Compiled by Laurent Fabius’s office, it was an attempt at creating consensus between all 195 parties.

Addressing delegates French President Francois Hollande pleaded for them to be unselfish when they read the draft agreement, considering the planet and not their own country agendas.

He spoke of recent events, and asked for solidarity. “On 12 December 2015 we can have a historic day, a major date to go down in the history of mankind,” he said.

“The date can become a message of life. I will be delighted, relieved, proud, that it be launched from Paris, because Paris was attacked almost exactly a month ago.”

There were mixed reactions from civil society. Large observer NGOs – many of whom have been very involved in the multilateral negotiation process – overwhelmingly welcomed much of the document, going as far as to describe it as “the end of the era of fossil fuels”, but alliances of climate justice activists from developing nations condemned it, saying they needed more concrete details of how it would help the most vulnerable.

South Africa has been vocal in support of the draft text – and has played an enormous role in the process to reach this agreement, born at COP17 in Durban.

Given the floor immediately after the accord was adopted, Environment Minister Edna Molewa spoke too, of Nelson Mandela. “I have walked that long road to freedom…” she quoted, “…I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb… but I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”

South African senior negotiator Alf Wills – himself a veteran of 11 COPs – told ANA, “This is where the hard work begins.”

ANA

(File photo: Gallo Images / Getty Images)