Background 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference

from left right: un secretary-general ban ki-moon, president of south africa jacob zuma, president of conference maite nkoana-mashabane , unfcc deputy executive secretary richard kinley

the conference officially referred 17th session of conference of parties (cop 17) united nations framework convention on climate change (unfccc) , 7th session of conference of parties serving meeting of parties (cmp 7) kyoto protocol. in addition, 2 permanent subsidiary bodies of unfccc – subsidiary body scientific , technological advice (sbsta) , subsidiary body implementation (sbi) – hold 35th sessions. 2010 united nations climate change conference extended mandates of 2 temporary subsidiary bodies – ad hoc working group on further commitments annex parties under kyoto protocol (awg-kp) , ad hoc working group on long-term cooperative action under convention (awg-lca) – expected meet well.

a primary focus of conference secure global climate agreement kyoto protocol s first commitment period (2008–2012) end. expected focus on finalising @ least of cancun agreements , reached @ 2010 conference, such co-operation on clean technology , forest protection, adaptation climate impacts, , finance – promised transfer of funds rich countries poor in order them protect forests, adapt climate impacts, , green economies .

a month before conference began, bbc highlighted 2 contentious proposals had been submitted – 1 russia, other papua new guinea, both aiming amend united nations framework convention on climate change. russia s proposal bring periodic review whereby countries categorised poor recategorised rich , , obliged shoulder greater obligations in combat against climate change. bbc environment correspondent richard black commented proposal provocative , explosive, if russia pushes , because potentially affected countries, such china , brazil, push . papua new guinea s proposal, submitted ambassador kevin conrad support of mexico, introduce last resort mechanism break deadlocks in climate change negotiations through three-quarters majority vote, clarifying decision-making process under convention. describing proposal intriguing , black noted although theoretically enable developing countries use numerical superiority adopt kind of world-wide binding obligation, in practical terms still need approval of rich countries secure funding.