1 December 2014: On the sidelines of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the UNFCCC in Lima, Peru, developing country panelists discussed critical steps to secure an equitable and just climate agreement by COP 21 in Paris, France. The Third World Network (TWN) and South Centre organized the event on ‘Perspectives on the 2015 Paris Deal: Options on the Road from Lima 2014 to Paris 2015.’

Meena Raman, TWN, who moderated the panel, said the US$9.7 billion pledged to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is inadequate to address developing country assistance needs. Seyni Nafo, African Group delegate for the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), recommended party contributions include both mitigation and adaptation.

On actions necessary from Lima to Paris, Ravi Prasad, India, recommended addressing all key elements, including adaptation, mitigation and financial commitments. He emphasized that any agreements reached in Lima should be based on equity, without which reaching any targets would be impossible. Martin Khor, South Centre, said “equity should be the gateway to ambition” and recommended financial investments of US$500 billion for mitigation and US$400 billion for adaptation. He urged reaching a Paris agreement based on national circumstances.

Participants also discussed, inter alia: the effects of a 1.5 or 2˚C increase in global temperature; an equity reference framework; strategies to address regional and sectoral barriers; and developed countries’ legal obligations to developing countries, including on technical assistance and capacity building .

The South Centre is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries working to promote, and build the capacity of its members to promote, their common interests in the international arena. TWN is an international network of organizations working on issues related to sustainable development, the global South and North-South relations. [IISD RS ENBOTS Coverage] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference] [South Centre Event Announcement] [About TWN]