Meet the Adopted Negotiator
Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by joannadafoe in Canada
Joanna and her adopted negotiator David McGovern
Introducing… your current Lead Negotiator from Canada! I had a chance today to grab a coffee with David McGovern. [As a side note: David, if you're reading, I think it is really cool that you always make an effort to meet with young folk like in Bali and Poznan]. I wanted to catch up with David about Canada’s current climate change position, and the Federal Government’s strategy moving forward from now to Cancun. Here are some of the points we discussed from our meeting although this recap is not verbatim. I’d like to thank David very much for his kindness and willingness to answer these questions.
Is there any intelligence on who the new lead negotiator will be, or when the position will be announced?
David assured me the new position will be announced “soon,” but that is all the information he knows. I asked why Michael Martin is not leading the Canadian Delegation anymore and David explained that Martin’s appointment was an intentional decision after Bali in COP13 to build up capacity for Copenhagen. His position was never intended to be long-term.
Any news on Canada’s pledges for fast track financing? When will it be announced? Are pledges additional to official development assistance?
Here the news is generally quite positive! David said Canada’s position is consistent with the Copenhagen Accord, which calls for new and additional funding (so as not to be included in official development assistance). When I asked how much exactly Canada intends to contribute for it’s “fair share,”, he said that the Government models will determine what amount is transferred. As for the timing, David does does not know when the financing will be announced but will be “soon,” by nature of it being fast track. I am not sure if this will be for the June Bonn meetings or the G8 Summit; but most certainly not this weekend.
Canada is the only country to have downgraded its emission reduction targets with the Copenhagen Accord - how is this consistent with a leadership role?
David said that Canada’s announcement in Copenhagen is consistent with Federal Government’s new harmonization goals. Canada will match its climate targets to be consistent with the US, and only follow our American neighbours. [In real terms, this means that instead of reducing our emissions 6% below 1990 levels by 2012, we are actually increasing our emissions by 3%]
great post as usual!