CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION COP-1 HIGHLIGHTS:: WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 1995
MINISTERIAL SEGMENT
Dr. Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, urged delegates to remember the lessons of Berlin, noting that never again must ‘walls of enmity’ be erected between peoples, nations and States. He stated that the Rio Conference provided a clear signal of hope, but the recent recession shows that sustainable development does not sufficiently determine the actions of States. He stressed three central issues: industrialized country responsibility to limit CO2
PHILIPPINES
Angel C. Alcala, Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, on behalf of the G-77 and China, said that only Annex I Parties have obligations to limit emissions. JI should only apply to Annex I Parties and there should be no credits during the pilot phase. On behalf of the Philippines, he urged delegates to adopt the ‘Green Paper.’
FRANCE
Michel Barnier, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the EU, said it is essential to complete negotiations by 1997 of a protocol to reduce GHG emissions beyond 2000. He stressed the importance of the financial mechanism. He said that France’s national programme will be able to reduce GHG emissions to the 1990 level by 2000.
NORWAY
Minister of the Environment Torbjoern Berntsen said the COP’s primary task is to launch a negotiation process to strengthen the Convention. OECD countries could establish a system where reductions could be divided with equitable burden sharing to allow agreement on more substantial commitments.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Mrs. R. Bjerregaard, Commissioner for the Environment, cited a European Commission working paper showing cost-effective reduction potential. She said political will, rather than technical or economic constraints, is preventing us from reaching our goal. She called for a commitment to specific and binding targets in the short term.
ALGERIA
Noureddine Kasdalli, Minister in Charge of Local Administration, Administrative Reform and the Environment, said implementation cannot obscure the right to development, common but differentiated responsibilities or sovereignty of developing countries over their resources.
THE NETHERLANDS
Margaretha de Boer, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of some of the OECD States, described the new OECD/IEA climate technology initiative. On behalf of the Netherlands, she called on governments to ‘act decisively and act now.’ The Netherlands will reduce CO2
POLAND: Stanislaw Zelichowski, Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry, said Poland will meet its current commitments under the Convention. The global balance of the climate system worldwide cannot be maintained without the active involvement of the world community. Commitments beyond 2000 are necessary.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Danilow Daniljan, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, said that a change in the system of values, social structures and interaction between countries is necessary to repair the environment. There is an urgent need to acknowledge the countries with economies in transition whose reduction of GHG emissions is considerable.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Amb. Peter Tsiamlili said developed countries must take the lead, and that it is urgent to adopt the AOSIS protocol. Failure of any programme amounts to existence versus extinction for the small island States.
DENMARK
Svend Auken, Minister for Environment and Energy, said that it is possible to stabilize and then reduce emissions without lowering the standard of living. Denmark sees a 20% reduction by 2005 as a necessary and feasible target and endorsed the AOSIS protocol.
VENEZUELA
Minister of Energy and Mines Erwin Arrieta said progress should be carried out with minimal social and economic consequences, especially for developing countries. Venezuela has supported a step-by-step approach to evaluate each step, not to delay adoption of appropriate measures.
GERMANY
Erhard Jauck, State Secretary, called upon the other Annex I Parties to commit themselves to stabilizing CO2
ARGENTINA
Maria Julia Alsogaray, Minister for the Environment, stated that all countries should design their policies with efficiency in mind. She reiterated support for a joint implementation pilot phase.
AUSTRALIA
John Faulkner, Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories, called for a protocol mandate before leaving Berlin. He acknowledged that Australia had not met the Convention’s target. But he noted that growth in its emission levels has slowed by 50% and promised to do more.
JAPAN
Sohei Miyashita, Director General of the Environment Agency and Minister in Charge of Global Environment, said developed countries must reduce emissions, create sinks and develop a global framework of cooperation that includes developing countries. Delegates should agree to the next step toward new aims or targets in a protocol with the SBI initiating negotiations to be completed by COP-3.
SWITZERLAND
Minister of the Interior Ruth Dreifuss said Annex I countries should redouble their efforts to reduce GHG emissions after 2000 to well below 1990 levels through a protocol whose negotiations should begin this summer and conclude by 1997. She urged OECD countries and those about to join OECD to adopt the same goal as Annex I countries.
INDONESIA: Sarwano Kusumaatmadja, Minister for the Environment, said commitments should be further strengthened for developed country Parties with preparation of elements for a protocol that reflects a global perspective, not perspectives of certain Parties. Joint activities between developed and developing country Parties should be on a bilateral basis with no credits.
SENEGAL: Mbaye Ndoye, Deputy Minister of the Environment and Nature Protection, appealed to Annex I Parties to put into effect the commitments they have undertaken, and added that the success of the Convention is subject to the will of those who have the means. He stated that developing countries should have no new commitments, and supported JI.
UNITED KINGDOM
John Gummer, Secretary of State for the Environment, said it is now time to examine the impact of high levels of subsidies and public ownership of utilities on climate change. He added that the UK is a ‘small island State’ and vulnerable to sea level rise.
UNITED STATES
Timothy Wirth, Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs, said the US is commited to reducing emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The objective at this Conference should be a mandate to negotiate an agreement by 1997.
NEW ZEALAND
Simon Upton, Minister for the Environment, called for a protocol containing commitments beyond the year 2000. He noted that New Zealand’s emissions will be 50% below 1990 levels in 2000. A global economy demands global solutions, perhaps through economic initiatives such as tradeable emissions permits.
MAURITANIA
Maitre S’Ghair Ould M’bareck, Minister of Rural Development and the Environment, noted that Mauritania suffers from desertification, which is one of the effects of climate variations. Efforts are now underway to develop a more comprehensive national environmental strategy, but financial assistance is needed.
MYANMAR
Amb. Win Aung said that the financial mechanism should assist developing countries to implement commitments under Article 4.1. Myanmar will communicate to the Secretariat its inventory of emissions and sinks for all GHGs not covered by the Montreal Protocol.
CANADA
Sheila Copps, Minister for the Environment, noted Canada’s recent promise to cut emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2005. She proposed ‘technological twinning’ between developed and developing countries.
MALAYSIA
Amb. Renji Sathiah voiced disappointment with some developed countries’ unwillingness to set specific reduction targets. He noted that AOSIS countries have twice taken the lead in setting targets, and that developed countries have not provided access to funding or technology transfer. He deplored developed country attempts to shift responsibilities to developing countries.
MEXICO
Carlos Gay-Garcia, Coordinator, National Institute of Ecology, noted that the cause of climate change has been identified, and nations must take precautions. While actions cannot run counter to development, Mexico will take the necessary measures.
BRAZIL
Dr. Jose Israel Vargas, Minister of Science and Technology, called for an appropriate negotiating body to ensure credible and realistic commitments in a flexible manner. All GHGs should be considered, as should the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
LUXEMBOURG
Johny Lahure, Minister for the Environment, said that commitments must be ‘concretized’ by a protocol that contains limitations, reductions and a binding calendar. Luxembourg will achieve a 33% reduction of CO2
SPAIN
Jose Borrell Fontelles, Minister for Public Works, Transport and the Environment, said Spain is curtailing CO2
MAURITIUS
Bashir Khodabux, Minister of the Environment and Quality of Life, stated that the Convention’s success depends on technology transfer, financial mechanisms and international cooperation. It should not suppress the right to development. He noted that the responsibility of the industrialized nations is inescapable, and spoke against shifting the burden to developing countries.
BURKINA FASO
Anatole Tiendrebeogo, Minister of the Environment and Tourism, expressed faith in international solidarity and described his country’s efforts on climate change.
LOCATION OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT
At the beginning of the afternoon Plenary, Amb. Estrada, Chair of the COW, noted that the final round of the survey on the location of the Secretariat would take place at 3:00 pm. Canada then took the floor to withdraw Toronto’s candidacy to host the Permanent Secretariat. After the final speaker of the day, Estrada announced that Parties participating in the informal survey had selected Bonn as the location of the Permanent Secretariat. Switzerland expressed its regret and congratulated Germany. Germany stated it was aware of the responsibility accompanying the choice, and thanked Estrada and the delegates. The Executive-Secretary of the Interim Secretariat, Michael Zammit Cutajar, thanked Geneva for the hospitality extended since 1991.
IN THE CORRIDORS
Consultations on joint implementation met from Tuesday night until 6:30 am Wednesday morning. With the exception of credits, there appeared to be agreement on most of the text that establishes a JI pilot phase. On Wednesday, small groups of delegates met in the corridors, while trying to avoid video cameras, to forge a compromise. By 7:30 pm, when one developed country delegation said that they were unable to take a final decision until Thursday morning, it became apparent that agreement on JI would have to wait. Meanwhile, consultations on the adequacy of commitments continued. Some participants commented that there has been ‘progress’ towards agreeing on a mandate to negotiate or consult on a protocol to be adopted by 1997. The question that remained when the group adjourned at 10:00 pm was just how vague this mandate would be.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
PLENARY
The ministerial segment will continue today at 10:00 am. The morning’s list includes 22 speakers and the afternoon’s ambitious list includes 46 ministers and other heads of delegation. Although Plenary is scheduled to end 9:00 pm, it could last longer…much longer.
INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS
Look for consultations on joint implementation to continue and possibly come to a conclusion this morning. The consultations on adequacy of commitments are scheduled to resume this morning as well. The Rules of Procedure also remain unresolved, but the status of consultations on this item is unknown.
===========================================================
- Improve this page Edit on Github Help and instructions
-
Donate
If you have found this useful and would like to support our work please consider making a small donation.