Minimal Consensus

Four reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a G8 summit in Heiligendamm, a Nobel Peace Prize for Al Gore and a world climate council -- never before has there been so much talk about reducing greenhouse gases as in 2007.

Then the environment ministers meet in blistering hot Bali with more journalists than have ever attended a climate conference and the result is a minimal consensus.

Not a single reduction goal for after 2010 is included in the final text, although such goals have been the topic of discussion for weeks -- even months -- and warnings from scientists who have been recognized with the very highest prizes can be found in a one-and-a-half-line footnote.

It's the same old situation that's to blame: The sacred oath that the wealthy states made at the environment summit in Rio in 1992 to set a good example in cutting emissions hasn't been kept. The industrialized countries have lost valuable time -- or, like the US and Russia, simply approach the climate challenge with demonstrative apathy.

For this reason, the emerging nations refuse -- not without good reason -- to risk the bit of prosperity they've finally managed to attain by making commitments to climate protection.

Practically every climate conference ends in the same way: the US, with countries like Canada and Russia on its side, facing off against the developing nations. It was no different this time.

In a certain way, the ambitious Europeans also bear some of the guilt. They're constantly naming the most extensive goals, but only a few EU states -- including Germany -- will fulfill the aims of the Kyoto Protocol by 2012.

Poor countries are fully aware of that.

Nevertheless, two aspects make the results of the Bali conference just barely tolerable. As expected, the mandate was issued to negotiate a successor treaty to Kyoto by 2009. And, as India proposed a text change at the end of the conference, the US delegation, which rejected the proposal, had to come to terms with their exaggerated arrogance toward the Third World. No one, not even eternal allies Canada or Russia, stood by the Americans, who ultimately gave up their resistance.

In the end, the at least symbolic victory should give the developing countries, which are most burdened by climate change, more self-confidence.

DW-TV's correspondent and environment expert Jens Thurau reported on the UN climate conference from Bali. (kjb)