After 12 days of negotiations in Poznań, the COP 14 – United Nations Conference on Climate Change – came to an end. Representatives of countries from all over the world succeeded in attaining the objective of making their standpoints much more uniform on the new climate change agreement. Among other things, the Parties found common ground on the launch of the Adaptation Fund and the Poznań Technology Transfer Strategy, and completed the review of the Kyoto Protocol. COP 14 was the biggest political summit ever organized in Poland, and in this part of Europe.

Organisation of the Conference was coordinated by the Ministry of Environment. The Poznań-based summit attracted nearly 12 thousand participants, and more than a thousand accredited journalists. Although the number of conference guests exceeded earlier expectations, the meeting itself as well as all accompanying events, proceeded without interruption, confirming the efficiency and flexibility of the preparations. Perfect organization guaranteed all participants excellent working conditions.

On 12th December Poland achieved a double success – said Maciej Nowicki, the Polish Minister of Environment, and President of COP 14 – First of all, we have succeeded here in Poznań – our negotiations being over, bringing concrete results for climate protection actions under the auspices of the UN. Another success is the one brought home from the EU summit in Brussels, where Poland managed to win an optimum offering from the EU, which will benefit both our country and our environment.

What is most important, Poznań became a place where both developing and developed countries managed to reach concrete results of negotiations. All elements of the complex mosaic – namely the global cooperation for climate – have finally been arranged. The road from Bali through Poznań to Copenhagen is now safe and wide open – Minister Nowicki added.

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC: I am extremely grateful to Minister Nowicki, not just for chairing this climate debate, but also for preparing superb infrastructure. Polish government put extreme effort both in organising the summit and in completing it with success.

During the Poznań-based Conference, COP 14 President Maciej Nowicki focused on attaining the following objectives:
• Developing specific operating guidelines of the Adaptation Fund,
• Reviewing the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol,
• Adopting an action plan for the year 2009, in order to sign an agreement in Copenhagen,
• Expanding the CDM (Clean Developement Mechanism) to include CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage).

Among the greatest achievements of the Climate Conference, the reform of the Adaptation Fund ought to be mentioned. As a result of decisions made in Poznań, the resources from the Fund will be made available directly to developing countries, avoiding previously occurring obstacles that hampered project implementation. In effect, countries which are facing the most dramatic results of climate change will launch first adaptation projects next year.

The Adaptation Fund was created in order to support actions by developing countries – Parties to the Protocol – focused on adapting to climate change. Prime Minister of Tuvalu – the country which may soon find itself completely swallowed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean – gave a truly emotional speech at the opening session of the ministerial round table, making a reference to a “Survival Fund”. In October 2008, during a meeting organized by Minister Maciej Nowicki in Warsaw, the Swedish Minister of Environment declared a USD 200 million donation to the fund. Poland also made its first step in the right direction today, showing support of the Adaptation Fund. As part of a conference-related offset action, a certain amount of assigned amount units (AAUs) will be placed at the disposal of the Fund.

Poznań Technology Transfer Strategy
Poznań also welcomed a decision relating to technology transfer. The “Poznań Technology Transfer Strategy” drawn up in Poland assumes it will be a task of the GEF (Global Environmental Facility) to improve the efficiency of technology transfer by properly recognising relevant needs of developing countries. The process is expected to proceed due to close cooperation with implementing agencies.

The COP 14 session concluded with an adoption of a 2009 action plan. No fewer that 4 sessions are yet to be organized, at which the final draft agreement should be approved, to be later adopted in Copenhagen. A number of documents were developed to facilitate further negotiations, and an accord was reached on how to execute the negotiation plan.
A review of the Kyoto Protocol was also completed.
Furthermore, a decision was reached on the possibility of financing CCS projects as part of CDM projects.

Among obvious successes of the climate summit are declarations by several developing countries to carry out concrete reduction actions. Immediately after the Poznań summit Australia decided to set its reduction targets. Norway, in turn, announced that it would reduce its overall emissions by 30% until the year 2020. Also Japan announced its long-term reduction plan – 50% by 2050.

A major highlight of the climate summit was the declaration made by Senator John Kerry on behalf of the US President-elect Barack Obama. Yesterday he announced that the United States will become a leader in combating global warming. A statement followed that steps will be taken to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by the year 2050. It is a great breakthrough – Poznań is proud to have been its participant and witness.

After two tiring weeks of negotiations in Poznań, we have concluded an important chapter of our negotiations, which will result in a new global agreement on climate change singed next year. Now we are facing a year of equally strenuous work, with Poland holding presidency. During this period we will cooperate with our partners, including Denmark and the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, implementing the newly-adopted negotiation programme – said Mr Maciej Nowicki.

COP 14 photo gallery

12 December 2008, Press release: Late night conclusion of the Poznań summit (79,5 KB)

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