Mexico City: Stage set for a “robust and substantial agreement”

Felipe Calderon, President of Mexico delivered a resounding message to complete the WEF climate talks in Davos, Switzerland.

"After Copenhagen we need a robust and substantial agreement in Mexico."

Calderon praised the accomplishments of the Copenhagen accord, but acknowledged, as have many, that its conclusion was a disappointment. Namely, the 193 UN state members failed to reach a multilateral, legally binding agreement. The Mexican president believes the UN must lead the way.

If the COP16 fulfills Calderon's hopes, the UN will have to tackle hard and divisive issues. One way, according to Mexico's president, is to work in smaller and more focused groups.

Even if coordinating climate control globally, as was the hope of the COP15, proves unreachable (and it shouldn't be) Calderon believes it's possible to still make real progress. Like-minded nations, and global industries can come together to set their own initiatives, standards and targets.

The groups will be able to report to UN, emphasising "transparency" and "measurability," which have rarely been straightforward to the public. For example, the automobile industry, the steel industry, or G5 countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa) have the potential coordinate more quickly and effectively than nations can on a global scale.

Economics will drive the renewable and sustainable energy projects that will be instrumental to drive down our global carbon footprint, and the rich nations of the world must assist the poor.

Calderon hopes that leaders will take more time to reach the concrete legislature that the time-frame of the brief two-day Copenhagen summit simply could not provide.

Mexico's president has risen the bar and set higher expectations while global warming continues to raise our stakes in the matter.

With greater expectations for the upcoming COP16 in Mexico City, it is the our world leaders' duty to meet and surpass President Calderone's standards.

 

Author: Michael Good | Climate Action

Images Provided By: World Economic Forum | Flickr