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Fri, 11 Dec 2009
David and Goliath show down at Copenhagen talks – Tuvalu & PNG refuse to bow down
By PACNEWS Editor, Makereta Komai, Pacific Communication Team, Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (Pacnews) ----- It’s been dubbed the ‘David vs Goliath’ fight around the corridors of climate change negotiations here in Copenhagen.
Two Pacific Island Countries, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea have refused to bow down to pressures from a number of developed and developing countries to shut out discussions of their proposed amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.
The chairperson of the Conference of the Parties, Danish minister responsible for the climate change talks, Ms Connie Hedegraad had to adjourn the plenary session mid morning in an attempt to try and break the deadlock.
Tuvalu’s chief negotiator, Ian Fry refused to accept the ruling from the chair to move further discussions on the proposed amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to Saturday (12 Dec).
“We will not accept your decision to delay the debate to Saturday. It will be extremely difficult to waste more time to look at the proposal.
“It means that we will have little time to prepare our positions in time before our Heads of Governments arrive.
We cannot support this decision, Mr Fry told the plenary immediately after the ruling was made by the chair.
Even an assurance that the Saturday meeting will ensure an open and transparent debate on the proposed amendments were did not satisfy the two Pacific Island nations who are members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Papua New Guinea’s chief negotiator, Kevin Conrad urged for more time to be spent on discussing his country’s proposal to include the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) as part of the current Kyoto financing mechanism under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
“We urgently should have a system to review the specifics of amendments that are consistent with the Kyoto Protocol, said Mr Conrad.
Speaking in favour of Tuvalu, a number of the countries, East Timor, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica emphasised that the proposed amendments will not ‘kill off’ the Kyoto Protocol, but instead ‘add more value’ to the current legally binding agreement.
Senior Vanuatu delegate at the talks here said, “It’s sad to see that lot of the developed countries are trying to distort the issue.
Jotham Napat said most of the objections assumed that Tuvalu’s proposal will totally remove the Kyoto Protocol.
India, Saudi Arabia and Oman lead the campaign to shoot down Tuvalu’s move to refer its amendment proposal to a contact group, as legally required under the Kyoto Protocol.
“There was a lot of support during plenary for Tuvalu. My country supports Tuvalu and the AOSIS position.
“Similarly, we support Papua New Guinea’s push for REDD to be part of an extended Kyoto climate change deal.
“Because of the urgency to get an agreement negotiated, we need to move on it quickly so that we have a solid agreement by next week. We should have it now or it will be too late, said Mr Napat.
Debate on the amendments to the Kyoto Protocol has forced a division within the most powerful grouping at the climate change talks – G77 and China.
Chair of G77, Ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping said there is no one position for G77 on the Tuvalu proposal. It’s up to members to express their national interests.
AOSIS chairperson, Ambassador Dessima Williams of Grenada refuted claims of a split within G77 & China group.
“G77 is not breaking up because the group has been around for a long time facing many differences. All together we are pursuing development out of a history of colonial and under development circumstances.
“I think if we keep our eye on that ball, then climate change challenge can set back development for us. I think there may be differences here and there but I think fundamental within G77 is one of unity and one of clarity that historical responsibility is with the developed countries and they ought to respond in a forthright and forthcoming manner.
Dr Williams said differences are ‘entirely normal.’
“We are definitely not getting everything from the process but be ensured that we are united.
Oxfam and Greenpeace applaud Tuvalu stance on legally binding agreements
By Cherelle Jackson, Environment Weekly, Pacific Communication Team, Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (ENVIROMENT WEEKLY) ------ - Tuvalu's persistence in pushing for legally binding agreements to come out of Copenhagen was today applauded by Oxfam International and Greenpeace.
In statements issued on the fourth day of negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, both organisations hailed the strength of the small island nation in insisting that their proposal be discussed in the plenary yesterday.
The demand from Tuvalu which was put forward by their long time negotiator Dr. Ian Fry resulted in a suspension of the Conference of the Parties (COP) plenary session until the issue could be resolved.
“Tuvalu has taken a strong stand to put the focus back on their bottom line, there must be strong and legally binding outcome from Copenhagen. Nothing else will deliver the strong commitments to urgent action that are needed to avoid catastrophe, especially to the most vulnerable countries and people,” said Oxfam Spokesman Barry Coates.
Greenpeace, Pacific Political Advisor Seni Nabou said the suspension concerns one of the most important questions of Copenhagen, the matter of whether or not the outcome will be legally binding.
“For the vulnerable countries in our region, like Tuvalu, it is about survival. It’s about whether the rest of the world is serious about stopping climate change. Only a legally binding agreement can give Pacific island countries the confidence that their future is guaranteed,” she said.
The Tuvalu proposal was supported by many of the vulnerable countries, from sub-Saharan Africa as well as the small island states, with passionate and powerful statements about the catastrophic impact of climate change to their people.
The motion for a group to discuss Tuvalus proposal was opposed by some of the developing countries who were concerned that discussion on a new legally binding agreement would be used by rich countries to evade their commitments under the existing Kyoto Protocol.
Mr Coates said: “This is not about splits between developing countries. They will want the same thing, for rich nations to live up to their commitments to undertake deep emissions cuts in the Kyoto Protocol and binding commitments on the United States as the country that has not signed the Kyoto Protocol.”
Greenpeace agrees saying: “Without this the talks risk being nothing more than a photo opportunity.”
Ms Nabou said this is perhaps just the beginning of the vigour that the Pacific Islands will display at the negotiations.
“The Pacific wants an outcome from Copenhagen that will ensure our future and security as sovereign island nations is protected. We need to fight for our survival and cannot walk away from Copenhagen with a suicide pact. ”….PNS (ENDS)
PAC – COP 15: PACNEWS PACNEWS SPECIAL: Fri 11 Dec 2009
Islands of people want Oceania contact
By Matelita Ragogo, Pacific Communication Team, Copenhagen
11 DECEMBER 2009 DENMARK (Pacnews) ----- Living perpetually in ones’ island home is the ideal situation is the message that underlies statements by Pacific island nation representatives here at Copenhagen in Denmark where the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ends its first week of talks.
Physical repercussions of changing weather patterns and some worse-case scenarios are being used to draw attention to the plight of island populations of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a feat in itself if one is competing with issues like the carbon market, financing climate change mechanisms and technology measures.
Science woke up late, it is generally agreed here, to climate change but moreso to the speed with which it was causing damage to the planet; changing weather patterns being one of the latter manifestations of its subtlety rather than first signs.
But there are enough empirical evidence now that can finally allow countries that may eventually become submerged like Kiribati, to discuss its plights with alot of conviction than the last 20 years, a vindication in some ways that they were being dramatic then and now.
The key phrase for those already living climate change impacts is ‘legally-binding agreement’ which is why the Kyoto Protocol is being touted as the better document– a COP15 agreement, signs are already indicating, may eventually be just another political agreement, without compliance mechanisms and/or compensatory tools should nations renege on their obligations.
Pacific island nations have wasted no time in terms of making their voices heard, making their presence felt, arguing that the planet is everyone’s heritage; it is not just an investment vehicle or disposable asset.
In June last year, several countries including Tuvalu submitted amended versions of the Kyoto Protocol, believing there is no need for a new COP15 agreement.
On Wednesday, Tuvalu with support from several African coastal states insisted on the suspension of the conference of parties (COP), demanding their proposed amendment to the Kyoto Protocol be discussed in a committee. In the afternoon, another Pasifika wave rippled through the venue as Kiribati put up a magnificent side-event including a traditional dance.
And on Tuesday, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia reps conducted a press briefing where they personalised the issue of climate change, speaking as human beings from countries that will potentially drown as opposed to state representatives.
Fiji’s Colonel Samuela Saumatua spoke of the rising sea-level his village in the Rewa delta has to deal with now while FSM’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Masao Nakayama spoke of the disappearing beaches of his island.
Solomon Island’s permanent representative to the UN Colin Beck said Pacific island leaders had been talking climate change for two decades with no reaction by the developed world and major polluters.
Samoa's ambassador to the United Nations Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia couldn’t have been more frank: ‘’we are not here just to make up the numbers. We are here because we need action now.’’
Elisaia told journalists at a press briefing which was streamed live (and is still) on the official COP15 website: ‘’Let us use science as the basis of all this so that people don't get off scot-free in terms of their responsibility.’’
Speaking on behalf of the group, Saumatua said Copenhagen was not just another round of talks for Pacific island nations but a ‘destination’.
‘’It is here and now that all countries must come together to find a path that will avert the world’s current course towards a catastrophic climate change,’’ Saumatua said.
‘’The expectation of Pacific island countries are ambitious. We recognise that any legally-binding agreement must display environmental integrity, gives special recognition to our particular vulnerabilities and not place any unfair burden on small island states.’’
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) do not deny that they expect a lot – they want increased and genuine efforts by major polluters for a package of mitigation activities that provide for long-time stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration; that global average temperatures must be limited to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius; and that parties must reduce emissions by 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by 95 percent come 2050. The AOSIS want the above to be complimented with adequate support for capacity building, technology transfer and a comprehensive, equitable and robust outcome.
‘’We are ambitious because our situation is serious. We have to be ambitious because climate change threatens the very heart of survival and existence in the Pacific. Climate change threatens our way of life, our rich culture and traditions, our identity and our sovereignty as island states,’’ Saumatua said.
‘’I challenge the leaders here today in Copenhagen to show the political will and act to bring about the meaningful and legally-binding outcome for the sake of the Pacific and the rest of the world.’’
Nakayama feels that talks had been more centred around ‘what is feasible to do and not what we must do’.
‘’I don’t know what else I can say because beyond that would be an appeal but appeal is not correct because small island states are not the cause of the problem, it’s everybody else and we must not request but must demand that they must be the first one to fix this problem.’’
Beck said while pledges were commendable, actually receiving such pledges never eventuated, emphasising the importance of a legally-binding agreement. He warned that to continue on this path simply meant situations for ordinary people steadily worsened and the cost of climate change response could eventually represent three percent of the global GDP, if nothing constructive and effective is done by 2015.
‘’Also in terms of the outcomes, it needs to be more focused,’’ Beck said. ‘’Failure is not an option. We come with a lot of hope, with a lot of positive spirit.’’
Whatever happens at Copenhagen, no one is denying anymore that climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity, a cross-cutting issue that touches our sovereignty, food security, gender and the future generation.
To do less of what AOSIS expects is to fail those who people Oceania.
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