March 16, 2010

COP15 REDD+ facilitator, Tony La Vina, Proposes Way Forward

In a heartfelt letter by the lead facilitator on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) in Copenhagen, Tony La Vina reflects on his experience during the COP 15 negotiations (REDD+ is one of two new mechanisms called for in the Copenhagen Accord). In the letter, La Vina suggests using the approach that lead to success in the REDD+ negotiations as possible way forward for the UNFCCC process as a whole.

On the one hand, according to La Vina, “the failure of Copenhagen was a collective failure and that all of us [negotiators] who were there, and the governments we represented, should hold ourselves accountable.”  On the other hand, however, the frantic atmosphere of COP 15, especially the expulsion of observers and lack of transparency in the final days, suggests fundamental changes to the UN structure are needed for any ambitious global agreement on climate change to be reached. More...