OILWATCH POSITION DOCUMENT ON ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE 

Introduction

The United Nations has recently recognized climate change as a fundamental issue regarding human rights. This decision shows once again the importance that the issue has gained at an international level. There is, however, a long way from words to deeds: official speeches are one thing and the proposed solutions to environmental catastrophes are another.

The above was evident in December of 2007 in Bali, during the meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol (PK). It is clear that the most polluting countries are not interested in fulfilling the agreements reached in international meetings on climate, and now intend to design new agreements for the post-2012 scenario, when the first period of the Kyoto Protocol expires (post-Kyoto). The intention is to create mechanisms that are mere palliatives. Talks of adaptation to climate change help polluters to avoid reducing real emissions and will allow new climate deals. The countries with obligations to reduce their emissions that cause the greenhouse effect have done too little, and are taking wrong steps while appearing to be doing something positive. 

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