Finland Times

 

Green League chairman Ville Niinistö.File Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The chairman of Vihreä (Green League), Ville Niinistö on Saturday said concerns from scientists across the globe have been heard at the Paris negotiations on the final draft on climate change accord.

 

“I’m thrilled by the content of the text. Keeping global warming between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius is a difficult goal,” Niinstö told the news agency STT, adding that the climate meeting is still in its early days, and approval of the agreement by the plenary session seems certain.

 

He pointed out that climate emissions must start to fall in the next few years, but the commitments made by countries in advance of the meeting in Paris are not in any way sufficient enough to achieve the ambitious objectives.

 

“It was anticipated that delegates would be unable to make concrete commitments in Paris, because they had mandates limited to prior commitments on emission reductions,” said Niinstö, also the former environment minister. 

 

Agriculture and Environment Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen.File Photo – Lehtikuva.

According to Niinistö, it’s worth noting that due to the contractual mechanism, national commitments will be reviewed, if necessary, and tightened even as soon as five years from now. 

 

The contract’s greatest weakness, in his opinion, lies not only in its inadequate commitments, but that the tightening measures do not take effect until after the year 2025.

 

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen said he is confident that the climate agreement will be ratified by a substantial majority of the 195 countries.

 

“Compared to yesterday’s (Friday’s) agreement, we’re going in a better direction. The binding nature of the agreement improves both action and transparency in climate change initiatives, and it applies to all countries, including developing countries,” Tiilikainen told STT on Saturday about the situation at the Paris climate change conference.

 

In addition to the emission reduction targets, there is a five-year timeframe. Setbacks in reducing emissions are not allowed, according to Tiilikainen.

 

“This is all starting to look pretty good,” said Tiilikainen.