An insiders view of COP21

I could tell you about the speeches made by highly committed Heads of State, or about the negotiator who was complaining yesterday that so little progress was being made. I could also describe the structure of the negotiations and the multitude of sub-groups that come up with so many acronyms that even the most experienced observers can't keep up. But instead I am going to tell you about the heartfelt cry by the President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, at a conference organised by the Inter-American Development Bank. Unfortunately, his cry could have been made by many developing countries.

''Vulnerable countries in negotiating groups such as the Alliance of Small Island States and the Latin American and Caribbean Group could prove to be the key to the success of the Paris Agreement.''

According to a survey by German Watch, Honduras is the 5th most vulnerable nation in terms of global warming. President Hernandez described the "extreme events" his people are facing, such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which cost 25% of the country's GDP and took 7,000 lives, or the drought that has hit 147 out of 290 towns in the past two years, obliging the government to feed 247,000 families. He criticised the cynicism shown by certain countries that know about this but are doing nothing, wondering whether they will react before it's too late. He also spoke about the initiatives taken by his country to reduce the impact and adapt to climate change.

We are hearing more and more about these examples of vulnerable countries. They are the first affected and are often the first to find solutions, like for example the 43 countries in the Climate Vulnerability Forum, which have announced the full decarbonisation of their economies and 100% use of renewable energies by 2050. Vulnerable countries in negotiating groups such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Latin American and Caribbean Group could prove to be the key to the success of the Paris Agreement."

Emmanuel Martinez
Environment Director at Societe Generale