Global direction on climate change
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Re: Is there any room for optimism over climate change?
Professor Imtiyaz Yusuf asks a fundamental question in the cited article. From the perspective of multilateral diplomacy, the recent G20 Summit in Brisbane gave some cause for moderate optimism. In the G20 Leaders’ Communiqué we find a clear commitment to support strong and effective action to address climate change. However, the practical value of this general commitment will become visible only in December 2015 during the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This conference is expected to adopt a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the UNFCCC, that is applicable to all parties. If this legal objective is achieved, it would be a promising success for multilateral diplomacy in negotiating our global destiny.
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok
