Postcard from Doha – Make today count!

Photo: farmers from Ethiopia’s Bale mountains who are now earning their living from coffee harvesting to reduce deforestation.

By Michelle Winthrop

“Make today count” scream the giant banners hanging from the ceiling of the conference centre, along with the slogans emblazoned on the taxis and buses: “Count me in”. Anyone would think there was an urgent task at hand here…

And there is. Delegates have just two years to agree a new framework to cut emissions further, essential if we’re to limit temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius.

Sadly, however, the urgency stops at the door of the negotiations room. Long, drawn-out debates on agriculture epitomised the challenge: developing countries want to focus efforts on helping the poorest to adapt. Fair enough. But if we can’t slow the emissions and prevent catastrophe, the poorest may not be able to adapt, regardless of how much money we throw at them.

So everyone is right, in a way, and yet nobody wants to give ground. And compared to previous years, the voice of NGOs is down to a whisper – they’ve voted with their feet. There has to be light at the end of the tunnel, right?

I have had the privilege to join the government of Ethiopia delegation’s discussions on Saturday, and that gives me some hope. If all the delegations could be this focused, emphasise the technical issues, and try to represent the needs of the poorest in the way our Ethiopian colleagues are doing, we’d be much closer to a deal than we are now. Human nature being what it is, Friday’s deadline may focus minds.

Here’s hoping…

– Michelle is Farm Africa’s country director in Ethiopia. Read more of her postcards from Doha: Are you here for the COP? and Is a climate deal on the cards?

Read about how we’re working with forest communities to conserve Ethiopia’s forests.