[A2k] TWN Bali Update: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FACE PRESSURE, THREATS AT CLIMATE TALKS

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Title : TWN Bali News Update No. 17
 Date : 19 December 2007

 Contents:
TWN BALI NEWS UPDATE NO. 17

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

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DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FACE PRESSURE, THREATS AT CLIMATE TALKS

Nusa Dua, Bali, 14 Dec (Meena Raman) -- Developing countries are coming
under strong pressure at the UN Climate Change Conference to accept
commitments and obligations to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions that
are unjust and which could seriously retard their development objectives.

Among the pressures is a threat that if there is no agreement, other methods
such as trade sanctions can be utilized to ensure that the developing
countries take actions that the developed countries want them to take.

This was revealed by the Chair of the Group of 77 and China, Ambassador
Munir Akram of Pakistan, at a press conference on the night of Friday 14
December.

Akram was speaking during a break in the intense negotiations taking place
among a small group of Ministers and senior officials on what is scheduled
to be the last day of the conference. Officials are speculating that the
conference will continue into Saturday morning due to the persistence of
wide differences in several issues.

The G77 Chair also said there had been a concerted attempt by certain
developed countries to press for a new and comprehensive international
agreement.

"Our concern is that such an agreement could be designed to erode the
Convention or Kyoto Protocol or to replace them. We have been reluctant to
accept the concept of a new agreement. We want full, effective and sustained
implementation of the Convention in all its aspects - mitigation but also
adaptation, technology and finance."

Akram opened the media conference saying that in the negotiations on
long-term cooperation to address climate change, we had to labour hard for
many days to elaborate the four building blocks in a way that is balanced
and covers all aspects, especially technology and finance for which the G77
had to fight very hard.

On the issue of future process, there are still deep differences as to
whether there will be a negotiating process or an informal dialogue, and
what would be the end result of the process.

Akram said there had been a concerted effort from certain developed
countries to press for a new and comprehensive international agreement. "Our
concern has been that such an agreement could in fact be designed to erode
the Convention or the Kyoto Protocol.

"We have been reluctant to accept the concept of a new agreement. I think we
will succeed to resist it. We want full, effective and sustained
implementation of the Convention in all its aspects - mitigation, and
assistance to developing countries for adaptation, technology and finance."

There has been and continue to be a significant difference between
developing and a very few developed countries with regard to mitigation
efforts and objectives, said Akram.

It is extremely difficult to try and secure an agreement by all developed
countries and parties - annex 1 countries plus non parties to the Kyoto
Protocol.

At the same time, developing countries are under strong pressure to also
accept commitments and obligations on mitigation which in their dimensions
are unfair and unjust and would significantly retard development of
developing countries, said Akram.

He said that this is the central difference that remains in the negotiations
and developing countries been so far successful resisted the kind of
pressure and threat that they have faced to undertake commitments that are
quintessentially unfair and unjust, given the levels and capacities of
developing countries.

Asked by media to elaborate on the threats that the developing countries had
received, Akram said that in the demands for greater commitments for
mitigation, we were told that if there is no agreement, other measures could
be utilized to ensure we take action to do what the developed countries want
us to do.

Asked if the threat came from withholding aid, Akram said he did not hear
that, but he did hear trade sanctions being mentioned.

Asked whether the developed countries would agree to extend the Kyoto
Protocol after 2012, Akram said the issue of extension of the protocol has 2
dimensions - first, the commitments of developed countries in the second
period, and we have not heard that they would not enter into the 2nd
commitments.

Second, said Akram, regarding whether non parties to the Kyoto protocol will
come on board, we have not heard. What they are prepared to do will be
through unilateral national measures.

Answering another question, Akram said that the carbon market issue must be
refined. The carbon market does not function as efficiently as required and
whether it is the answer is an open question.

The effort to cap emissions of certain developing countries we fear may
result in curbing their development momentum and trade competitiveness. The
developed countries took 200 years on a carbon rich path to
industrialization. Now the developing countries face constraints and some
measures are required so do not make the same mistakes.

However, said Akram, we cannot afford to allow our development to be stalled
or reversed because the levels of poverty are high. We cannot afford to have
our development stalled or reversed. It is a question of justice and
humanity and that is our concern.

Regarding the issue of an agreement, Akram said that our objective is the
full implementation of the convention and that implementation is required
now and will be required up to 2012. That does not require an agreement but
requires implementation and the fulfillment of obligations.

"So the idea of an agreement seems to be a red herring that may be designed
to deflect attention from the fact that the Convention has not been
implemented fully. We should not be deflected from implementation. The
concept of the need for a new agreement could thus be an escape clause."

To a question as to whether developing countries would accept caps on their
emissions, Akram said the developing counties are not required to accept
caps.

"We are saying that we will try our best to achieve a climate friendly path
to development and to try to do it differently. But the Convention in
Article 4.7 says that mitigation action in developing countries will be
contingent of the countries receiving technology transfer, confessional
finance and capacity building.

"Unless that is met, we cannot be expected to make commitments. But many of
us are already taking action anyway, for our own good."

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


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