Peru’s environment minister predicts positive outcome for UN climate conference

World Today

There’s a final push for an agreement at the international climate talks in Peru. Negotiators from more than 190 countries have tried for almost two weeks to prepare a draft text, which will serve as the basis for a new global climate treaty they hope to sign in Paris next year. Peru’s environment minister, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, remains hopeful, yet many are skeptical about results being reached. CCTV America’s Dan Collyns reported from Lima, Peru.

In the last hours of the summit, global negotiators were trying to prepare the elements for a new climate deal to be signed next year in Paris. However, as cracks emerged along familiar fault lines, there’s pressure to get a decision.

“The fear of not having a deal is actually forcing countries to accept a bad deal. We are setting out on the journey to Paris wearing a blindfold, and in the process we won’t be able to effectively tackle climate change,” Mohamed Adow from Christian Aid said.

Environmental groups said a seven-page draft text, which was released on Thursday, was too weak and left out key details, such as loss and damage compensation and climate finance.

Observers said the big developed countries didn’t want a deal which reflected their historical responsibility for emissions. Meanwhile, nations like the U.S. said developing countries wouldn’t own up to their changing circumstances.

Peru’s environment minister, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, who’s chairing the summit, told CCTV he was positive.

“I am completely optimistic that we can deal with some of the objections, and by the end of today, we are going to have a strong outcome. We should avoid for the future, for the next year, a sense of frustration, a sense of anxiety and anguish which we have already suffered in the past, so the best way to do that is to take a decision today,” he said.

Pulgar Vidal said he hoped a decision could be made by the end of the day. Few others believed that deadline could be met.


Jennifer Morgan from WRI talked about the UN climate change conference

For more on climate change, CCTV America interviewed Jennifer Morgan in Lima. She is the global director for the World Resources Institute’s Climate Program.


Tyson Slocum from Public Citizen talked about climate change

For more on climate change, CCTV America talked to Tyson Slocum, who is the director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program.