Way forward for ADP - betting on the wrong horse?

[Kjell Kühne]

Dear friends,

for your information, please find below my comments to AOSIS and the chairs of the ADP, both of whom asked for contributions and input.

I thought it would be of general interest for everyone involved with the UNFCCC process.

best wishes,

Kjell

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kjell Kühne <kjell....@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 9:36 AM
Subject: Way forward for ADP - betting on the wrong horse?
To: CA...@unfccc.int, na...@onecommonwealth.org, na...@un.int

Dear Mrs. Moses, Mr. Kumarsingh, Mr. Runge-Metzger,

I have received your call for input on the way forward in the ADP.

Through my involvement in the UNFCCC process I have come to the understanding that currently, as far as mitigation is concerned, we are not talking about the right issues.

As you know, our reaching or breaching of the 1.5° or 2°C targets will not depend on the amount of renewable energy capacity installed. It will depend directly on the extraction - or leaving in the ground - of fossil fuels. The absolute amount of this extraction must be on the negotiation table, else we are beating around the bush! No country has framed their national target as one of leaving their own fossil reserves in the ground. Mitigation pledges normally mean "we will burn less and export the rest". They don't translate into reduced extraction!

I would like to challenge your assumption that through the work - as it is currently framed - we would reach ANY less emissions in the future. If "mitigation" as it is currently framed is achieved anywhere, it simply leads to cheaper oil, gas and coal prices and more growth of fossil economies. Is there any mechanism that would transform ambitious mitigation pledges into fossil reserves left in the ground? Without such a mechanism, the atmosphere may never get to see any difference!

A collaborative process to end the fossil age and stabilize the climate (such as the "Cooperative Decarbonization" proposed by Beyond Zero Emissions, p.33 onwards) is badly needed, but I feel that there is currently a lack of direction. Can we get the UNFCCC back on track?

Thank you for your attention and best wishes with your efforts.

Kjell Kühne

Initiator

Leave it in the Ground Coalition (LINGO)

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We are on a mission to end the fossil age. A clean and safe future for ourselves and for our children will be powered 100% by renewable energy and fossil fuels will be left in the ground. Find out more about LINGO: http://leave-it-in-the-ground.org/

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