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Bali conference creates new deal to combat climate...
2007-12-17 11:41:28
By Penzi Nyamungumi, Bali, Indonesia
The 13th session of the UN framework Convention on Climate Change ended here last week giving birth to a landmark roadmap to create a new deal to combat global climate change.
This was achieved only after nerve-wracking negotiations and persistent challenges from the US.
Under heavy pressure from the rest of the delegates, the US was forced to drop its last - ditch objections and joined the consensus hammered out at the conclusion of the two- week UN Climate Change Conference.
``We want to be part of the roadmap, and let me say to you that we will go forward and join the consensus``, US head of delegation Paula Dobriansky said, amidcheers from delegates representing about 180 countries.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had both appealed to the participants to come up with an agreeable conclusion as the negotiations were earlier plunged into stalemate.
The roadmap sets out a clear agenda for key issues to be negotiated up to 2009 whereby it will ensure that the new deal can come into force after the first phase of Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
The key issues include action for adapting to the impacts of climate change such as floods, drought, ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ways to widely promote climate-friendly technologies and financing for both adaptation and mitigation measures.
``This is a real break-through, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change``, said conference president Rachmat Witoelar, who is also Indonesian Environment minister.
In his closing statement Witoelar appealed to the parties to fulfill their commitments adding that the decision taken in Bali would create a roadmap in future.
Earlier on, the US was protesting against the issue raised by developing countries that supports mitigation actions to address climate change should be considered in a measurable manner.
The Group of G77 and China stood firm on their position saying that was the only way to enable developing countries fulfill their commitments regarding nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development.
`Let us leave Bali having made a footprint for future generations to say proudly that they were here.
I wish to make an impartial plea for understanding on the part of US who were the power to block progress and wreck the progress made this far.
We support the position of the G77 as eloquently put forth by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and the Maldives on behalf of LDCs, said the Minister in the Vice President`s Office (Environment), Prof. Mark Mwandosya Earlier Mwandosya had urged developed countries to take the leadership role in emissions reduction.
He said this when he met the Japanese senior vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Itsunori Onodera.
For his part Onodera told Prof. Mwakyusa that Japan was committed to fulfill its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol of reducing emissions during the first commitment period starting from 2008 to 2012.
He further reiterated that as the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end by 2012, Japan calls for all countries including the developing countries like China and India to take legally binding commitments to reduce emissions in the second and subsequent commitment period.
Mwandosya had said developed countries must continue to take the leading role in emission reduction during the post Kyoto era and that they should continue to honour the principle of common but differentiated responsibility spelt out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
He had also urged developed countries to provide support to developing countries in terms of financial resources and environmentally-friendly technologies to enhance their participation in the implementation of the convention.
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