On March 31 representatives from over 160 countries kicked off negotiations for Kyoto II in Bangkok, Thailand. The latest round of talks are not expected to produce any breakthroughs and will predominantly focus on laying out an agenda for a series of subsequent meetings to end with the signing of an agreement in Copenhagen slated for 2009.
The last round of talks, hosted in Indonesia, generated some excitement; however, there have been signs of backsliding by certain countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand in their presentations in Bangkok.
The Bangkok talks could focus around the fear that while some countries work to do their part in reducing global warming, other countries will not match that commitment. The fear coming from developed countries is based on the belief that lesser developed countries cannot match the carbon reduction plans as new technologies come at a higher price. It is also a fear expressed by European industries.
The Bangkok talks must provide a work program by the end of the week leading towards an agreement in Copenhagen in 2009. How to handle that issue through a fair trade off between developed countries agreeing to reduce their emissions and providing technology and financing to help the developing countries to improve their own green industries, is what the Bangkok debate is largely about.
