[A2k] TWN Bali Update: G77-CHINA WARNS AGAINST EROSION OF UNFCCC, KYOTO PROTOCOL

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Title : TWN Bali News Update No.13
 Date : 14 December 2007

 Contents:
TWN BALI NEWS UPDATE  NO. 13

14 December 2007
Published by Third World Network
www.twnside.org.sg

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G77-CHINA WARNS AGAINST EROSION OF UNFCCC, KYOTO PROTOCOL

Nusa Dua, Bali, 13 Dec (Martin Khor) -- The Group of 77 and China have told
the Ministerial segment of the UN Bali Climate Conference that redressing
the implementation gap by developed countries and their taking on new
emission reduction commitments are the top priority in the climate talks.

They also warned that the new process of talks being initiated at Bali
should not lead to the erosion of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) or its Kyoto Protocol or the replacement of these by a less
equitable instrument.

The G77 and China also expressed disappointment with the failure of the
conference to come to an agreement on issues important to the group,
including technology transfer and capacity building.

The group=B9s views were presented at the high-level plenary by Pakistan=B9=
s
Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Munir Akram, who is Chair of the G77 and China in
the UN in New York.

The Bali climate meetings comprise the 13th session of the Conference of th=
e
Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC and the 3rd session of the Meeting of the
Parties (MOP) to the Kyoto Protocol, and meetings of their subsidiary body
on implementation (SBI) and the subsidiary body for scientific and
technological advice (SBSTA).

Officials have been meeting here since 3 December, and the high-level
segment began on 12 December with an opening ceremony in which several head=
s
of government and the UN Secretary General spoke. Following this were
speeches by countries, starting with regional groupings.

Ambassador Akram said the group welcomed the ratification of the Kyoto
Protocol by Australia and renewed its call upon all member states that have
yet not done so to ratify and implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

He said that climate change poses serious risks and challenges particularly
to developing countries and therefore demands urgent global action and
response. The Group is concerned that the adverse effects of climate change
threaten the sustainable development, livelihoods and the very existence of
many developing countries and in particular Africa, the LDCs, the LLDCs,
SIDS and disaster prone developing countries.

=B3At Bali, it is essential to redress the gap in implementation and to
generate corrective actions to address the enormity of climate challenge. W=
e
must do so on the basis of equity, common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities.

=B3The major responsibility rests on the developed countries. No significan=
t
progress can be made without major and significant reductions in emissions
of Greenhouse Gases by all Annex-1 countries. Therefore, the G77 and China
attaches particular significance to the new commitments, which Annex 1
countries are to make in the second commitment period after 2012. This will
be the single most vital determinant of success or failure in meeting the
Climate Change challenge.=B2

Secondly, said the G77-China, as the Framework Convention recognized, the
first and foremost priority for the developing countries is economic and
social development. Measures and steps to address climate change should
assist, not impede, the goal of sustainable development. Their development
momentum must be maintained and accelerated, especially in the poorest
countries.

=B3Thirdly, we must enhance the full, effective and sustained implementatio=
n
of the Convention,=B2 said Ambassador Akram. In this context, urgent action=
 is
needed to arrest and reverse the vulnerabilities of the developing
countries. Consequently, the process should accord equal priority to all th=
e
four building blocks (mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology) while
recognizing that the existing building blocks are not exhaustive.

=B3The G-77 and China considers that the provision of financial resources t=
o
the developing countries by the developed countries is a commitment under
the Convention,=B2 added Ambassador Akram.   Financing is one of the key
components to enhance the implementation of the Convention.

=B3There is a huge gap between the funding currently available through the
financial mechanisms of the Convention and the funding needs of the
developing countries. While market based solutions are important,
nonetheless, given the scale and magnitude of the resources required, the
close engagement of governments and public sector funding and intervention
will remain critical.=B2

The Group of 77 and China was relieved to see the finalization of the
recommendation on the Adaptation Fund. This is undoubtedly an important
step, which would help finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes
that are country driven and are based on the needs, views and priorities of
eligible Parties, said Akram.

=B3We look forward to the early operationalization of the Fund with immedia=
te,
adequate and predictable resource inflows and call upon all developed
countries to contribute to the Trust Fund for operating the Adaptation Fund=
.
Moreover, transparent utilization of the Adaptation Fund, in a cost
effective manner, will be the key to making it successful.=B2

The G77-China added that the development and transfer of technology to
developing countries through an effective mechanism supported by adequate
and predictable financial resource base is vital to enabling the developing
countries to face the challenges posed by climate change.

=B3We would like to express our disappointment over the manner in which we =
had
to struggle for long hours to restore this important item on the SBI agenda=
.
It is our hope that this subject will be given the priority that it
deserves,=B2 said Akram.

=B3We are also extremely disappointed not to have reached agreement on havi=
ng
a decision at this COP that will allow the implementation of the
technologies identified by developing countries. Ironically, developed
country Parties do state that technology development and transfer is one of
the building blocks for the design of future climate change regime.=B2

Akram added that Capacity Building under the Convention and the Protocol
remains an area of high priority for the G77.  =B3Unfortunately, this too h=
as
not received the attention it deserves.

=B3We also express our disappointment over the difficulties and hurdles tha=
t
we continue to face from developed country Parties on this issue. The most
recent deadlock at this Session is a clear manifestation of that lack of
understanding and flexibility on the part of our partners.=B2

Akram said that the G77 and China has actively participated in the ongoing
consultations on the Bali Roadmap including the possible establishment of a=
n
Ad Hoc Working Group on Enhancing the Implementation of the Convention.

=B3The G77 and China is concerned that the recommendations relating to the =
Ad
Hoc Working Group have not progressed as much as we would have liked. We
will work with others to bring our deliberations to a successful conclusion=
.
To do so, flexibility will be required from all sides.

=B3We must use this possibility to convert the climate challenge into a
climate opportunity. However, this endeavour should not result in the
erosion of the Convention or the Kyoto Protocol, or the replacement of thes=
e
by a less equitable instrument.

=B3We would like to reiterate that the UNFCCC, and its Kyoto Protocol, rema=
in
the central multilateral framework for cooperative actions to address
climate change.=B2

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www.twnside.org.sg; twnet@po.jaring.my



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