Attempts to
incorporate a key scientific study into global climate talks in Poland have
failed.
The IPCC
report on the impacts of a temperature rise of 1.5C, had a significant impact
when it was launched last October.
Scientists
and many delegates in Poland were shocked as the US, Saudi Arabia, Russia and
Kuwait objected to this meeting "welcoming" the report.
It was the
2015 climate conference that had commissioned the landmark study.
The report
said that the world is now completely off track, heading more towards 3C this
century rather than 1.5C.
Keeping to
the preferred target would need "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented
changes in all aspects of society". If warming was to be kept to 1.5C this
century, then emissions of carbon dioxide would have to be reduced by 45% by
2030.
The report,
launched in Incheon in South Korea, had an immediate impact winning praise from
politicians all over the world.
But
negotiators here ran into serious trouble when Saudi Arabia, the US, Russia and
Kuwait objected to the conference "welcoming" the document.
Instead they
wanted to support a much more lukewarm phrase, that the conference would
"take note" of the report.
Saudi Arabia
had fought until the last minute in Korea to limit the conclusions of the
document. Eventually they gave in. But it now seems that they have brought
their objections to Poland.
The dispute
dragged on as huddles of negotiators met in corners of the plenary session
here, trying to agree a compromise wording.
None was
forthcoming.
With no
consensus, under UN rules the passage of text had to be dropped.
Many
countries expressed frustration and disappointment at the outcome.
"It's
not about one word or another, it is us being in a position to welcome a report
we commissioned in the first place," said Ruenna Haynes from St Kitts and
Nevis.
"If
there is anything ludicrous about the discussion it's that we can't welcome the
report," she said to spontaneous applause.
Scientists
and campaigners were also extremely disappointed by the outcome.
"We are
really angry and find it atrocious that some countries dismiss the messages and
the consequences that we are facing, by not accepting what is unequivocal and
not acting upon it," said Yamide Dagnet from the World Resources
Institute, and a former climate negotiator for the UK.
Others noted
that Saudi Arabia and the US had supported the report when it was launched in
October. It appears that the Saudis and the US baulked at the political
implications of the UN body putting the IPCC report at its heart.
"Climate
science is not a political football," said Camilla Born, from climate
think tank E3G.
"All
the world's governments - Saudi included - agreed the 1.5C report and we
deserve the truth. Saudi can't argue with physics, the climate will keep on
changing."
Many
delegates are now hoping that ministers, who arrive on Monday, will try and revive
efforts to put this key report at the heart of the conference.
"We
hope that the rest of the world will rally and we get a decisive response to the
report," said Yamide Dagnet.
"I
sincerely hope that all countries will fight that we don't leave COP24 having
missed a moment of history."
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