Climate talks shift to nittygritty details of Paris accord

K ATOWI CE, POL A ND» Negotiators at the U.N. climate talks got down to the nitty-gritty task Tuesday of finalizing the rules for the Paris accord, a landmark agreement by countries three years ago to curb global warming.

The 2015 accord set a goal of keeping average global temperature increases well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. Scientists say the deal’s most ambitious goal — limiting the rise to 2.7 degrees F — is still feasible, but increasingly challenging.

The two-week meeting brings together diplomats from almost 200 countries, often with differing agendas. Some, such as the small Pacific islands, are pressing for urgent and drastic action, especially from developed countries, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Others, such as the European Union, agree on the need to cut emissions but want to ensure all countries contribute a fair share.

The U.S. is also taking part, despite announcing last year that it’s pulling out of the Paris accord.

Decisions on crunch issues, which may include financial aid for poor countries, are expected to be left to ministers when they gather at the domed conference venue in the southern Polish city of Katowice next week.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who issued a dramatic appeal to governments Monday to confront the threat of unchecked climate change, said he hopes the event in Poland will serve as a stepping stone for a meeting of leaders he is convening on the sidelines of next year’s General Assembly.

Guterres said he hopes to have progress by then on efforts to mobilize $100 billion to help developing nations reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.

“The capacity to come to the summit with a clear perspective on how that can be delivered and with a transparent approach to the financial dimension, that is absolutely crucial for our work to be effective,” he said.

Katowice has a long history of coal mining, an industry experts say can’t continue much longer if global goals to cut carbon emissions are to be met.

Anna Wiazek, a hairdresser from Katowice, said she was reserving judgment on the climate summit until the end.

“We will see what comes out of it, because a conference is a conference but what is really important is what is actually done, the actions,” she said. “But I’m happy and proud that this conference is taking place in Katowice, in our region, because people will see that it is interesting and not so very polluted at all, that we can live comfortably here.”