Highlights and shortfalls
The Copenhagen Agreement recognized that "deep cuts in global emissions are required according to science with a view to reduce global emissions so as to hold the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius."
For long-term financial support, a hot topic in debates during the past two weeks, the accord said: "In the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, developed countries commit to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries."
The agreement also noted the developed countries have the commitment "to provide new and additional resources, including forestry and investments through international institutions, approaching $30 billion for the period of 2010-2012.
The developed countries are asked "to implement individually or jointly the quantified economy wide emissions targets for 2020," but the exact figure is left out. The developed countries need to submit their emission targets by Jan 1, 2010.
(China Daily 12/21/2009 page11)
