UN hosts post-Bali ministerial session on climate change

Gerard Aziakou, Yahoo News 12 Feb 08;

Developing and rich nations on Tuesday urged speedy UN-led action to seal a new global pact to reverse climate change by late 2009, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable countries.

Representatives of 117 countries and regional organizations attended a ministerial session of the General Assembly to take stock after last December's Bali conference in Indonesia.

The Bali conference yielded an action plan that set a late 2009 deadline for a landmark new treaty to cut global-warming greenhouse gases once the current Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

"The Bali Action Plan ... reflects a common understanding that no country is immune to climate change," Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar told the gathering.

He stressed that while rich nations should take the lead in implementing the plan, its success requires broad participation around the globe.

"More action can be expected to take place in the developing world with more ambitious commitments by developed countries," he added.

Speaking on behalf of the 132-nation Group of 77 and China alliance, Antigua and Barbuda's UN Ambassador John Nashe cautioned that "the road to Copenhagen" where talks on the Bali plan are to be concluded late next year "will be a difficult one, particularly for developing countries and the poorest and most vulnerable."

He called for an "effective and comprehensive global response to cover the four building blocks of the plan -- mitigation (action to reduce the extent of global warming), adaptation (action to minimize the effects of global warming), technology transfer and financing.

"Without rapid and tangible efforts by developed countries in this regard, climate change will lead to increased poverty and will negate our efforts at achieving sustainable development," Nashe said.

However, Sri Lankan Environment Minister Patali Ranawaka countered that "it is not fair to expect the developing nations to shoulder the full burden of responding to climate change impact.

"Historically their contributions to climate change have been minimal and will continue to be."

China's special representative for climate change talks Yu Qingtai pressed for establishment of "effective mechanisms ... as soon as possible to insure that measurable, reportable and verifiable assistance be provided to the developing countries with regard to financial resources, technology and capacity building."

He insisted that Beijing was taking climate change "very seriously."

"While making our own due contribution, we will also help other developing countries to enhance their ability to adapt to climate change," Yu pledged.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Slovenian Environment Minister Janez Podobnik however pointed out that under the Bali deal, "all developed and developing countries need to take appropriate action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions."

Dutch Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer said billions of dollars will be needed over the next 20 years "to place the world on a low-carbon, sustainable energy path, to take measures to protect vulnerable populations from the impact of climate change and to tackle the issue of deforestation effectively."

She said the bulk of the extra financial flows for that purpose would have to come from the private sector.

Cramer urged governments to "create a favorable investment climate and provide the right incentives" through "a post-2012 arrangement that is cost-effective, flexible and fair."

Meanwhile Podobnik noted that the EU fully backed efforts to "achieve a coordinated UN approach to climate change" and called on all member states to support the process.

Several other speakers made it clear that the United Nations, through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), was the only appropriate forum to deal with the issue.