Commentary: Build on Marrakech momentum for global climate action

As delegates attending the Marrakech United Nations climate conference leave for home, the global community should start working on bolder, faster steps right away, acting on the renewed determination displayed in this "Rose City" to save humankind from itself.

All countries, both developing and especially developed ones, should seize and build on the "irreversible" and "extraordinary" momentum reflected at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP12), and the 1st session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1).

A proclamation issued on Thursday in Marrakech demanded the "highest political commitment" to combating climate change, as "a matter of urgent priority."

The United States, the largest developed economy, and China, the largest developing country, should take the lead in the fight against global warming.

China, for its part, has steadily forged ahead with efforts in promoting a green, low-carbon economy at home and in helping fellow developing countries in the South tackling climate change.

Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change affairs, said the Chinese government considers it an inherent requirement under its own sustainable development to address climate change and shoulders its share of responsibility for the common destiny of the human race. China has set itself a binding target of 19 percent cut of CO2 emission per unit of GDP for the period of 2015-2020.

China has launched the China Fund for South-South Cooperation on Climate Change, to establish low-carbon model parks, implement mitigation and adaption projects, and train personnel in developing countries.

Concerns have been gripping Marrakech over U.S. climate policy under President-elect Donald Trump who, on his campaign trail, had denied global warming as a "hoax" and threatened to pull Washington out of the historic Paris Agreement and stop funding global climate actions.

Many have expressed optimism that Trump would do the right thing after taking office inside the White House; others have warned of the dire consequences if he does not.

In a speech in Marrakech, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned against making "irrevocable choices" for "decisions about which road to take at this critical juncture."

"No one has a right to make decisions that affect billions of people based on solely ideology or without proper input," Kerry said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was among the most optimistic.

"I am sure that he will make a good, wise decision," Ban said, stressing that the Paris Agreement is advocated by "not just a few countries" but represents a "wholehearted commitment by the whole world."

Xie Zhenhua, the top Chinese climate envoy, is also upbeat.

"I believe a wise leader will follow the historical trend," Xie said. "We shall have faith in that."

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of Fiji, which takes over the presidency of UN climate change conference next year, asked Trump to make the right climate decisions to save the world from "catastrophe."

"A global scientific consensus is that it (global warming) is very real," Bainimarama said, inviting the U.S. president-elect to visit Fiji and to see for himself the effects of climate change.

"As the second biggest carbon emitter on earth, the United States must take responsibility for contributing to our collective response to this crisis and show leadership at this critical stage," Bainimarama said.

In addition to uncertainties over future U.S. climate policy, another focal point in Marrakech was arrangements for financial support for global climate action, especially among delegates from developing countries.

They were disappointed at developed countries' slowness and inadequacy in contributing to global climate action.

A report on the progress of rich countries' commitment to provide an annual 100 billion U.S. dollars to developing countries before 2020 was rejected as not reflecting reality.

"There is reluctance to acknowledge that action needs to happen today, if not yesterday," Meena Raman, of Friends of the Earth Malaysia, told a press conference on Friday, accusing developed countries of dragging feet.

"There is an attempt here to introduce a report... which pretends to show that they are on track," she said. "All of us know that they are not on track."

"The numbers are being forged, the methodology is flawed, and the developed countries are way, way short," she said.

Many called for immediate action rather than waiting until after 2020.

"The action before 2020 is absolutely crucial," said Dipti Bahatnagar, of Friends of the Earth International. "Developed countries, the ones with the historical responsibility, need to have stronger targets on reducing emissions."

In his remarks at the closing plenary, Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, who serves as president of COP22, said Marrakech has pushed the implementation of the Paris Agreement up a gear.

Marrakech represents a landmark between the historic Paris Agreement and the way forward, he said.

The world should work harder, faster on climate change, and make the Rose City the new start of a rosier future for this and future generations. Endit