China, India Sign on to Copenhagen Climate Accord

An ample supply of optimism preceded the COP15 climate summit that took place in December in Copenhagen. It proved to be an event whose outcomes were not well matched with the hope and expressions of urgency by many that came before it.

The summit established emissions targets but no teeth in the form of a globally shared, legally binding treaty and the laudable goal of establishing a multi-billion dollar fund. This program, which could help developing nations combat the effects of changing climate, creaked along at such a slow pace that the International Monetary Fund, not normally known for involvement in environmental matters, recently stepped in to lend momentum to the initiative.

But as The Guardian reports, two of the most significant developing nations whose reticence at Copenhagen contributed to slow progress have announced a partial change of heart. China and India, both with rapidly developing economies and populations that exceed one billion people, have formally endorsed the agreement that was hammered together at COP15. Still up in the air are unresolved questions regarding the most appropriate framework to construct and the legal mechanisms that it may incorporate and, in particular, whether to include a requirement similar to the one contained in the Kyoto Protocol calling for unanimous adoption by participant nations.

The move by China and India may not have come in time to build a consensus for a formal treaty to arise out of the COP16 summit to take place later this year in Mexico. But, as The Guardian reports, the 2011 COP17 gathering (slated to take place in South Africa) is more likely to produce a breakthrough climate change agreement.

Photo by Antarktika via Wikimedia Commons.