Pacific ready to go to work on all issues here in Panama

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

03 October 2011 Panama --- Pacific negotiators at the last round of climate change negotiations here in Panama City are happy with preparations for this weeklong meeting compared to the previous meetings in Bangkok and Bonn.

Climate Change Adviser for the region’s environment organisation, Espen Ronneberg told Climate Pasifika this is a good start and ‘the Pacific group is ready to go to work on all issues at hand.’

“In Bonn and Bangkok, there were procedural problems in adopting an agenda for the meeting. That was really frustrating in Bangkok because the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) had a good preparatory meeting and we were ready to go to work on all issues.

“We had a similar start to the session in Bonn, said Ronneberg.

Here in Panama, the Pacific delegation will continue their push for strong targets, credible action on adaptation and clear decisions on finances and how to access them immediately.

“It’s now time to discuss draft text since there appears to be a general consensus amongst Parties to begin work, said Diane McFadzien, also of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

While discussions appear difficult on the Kyoto Protocol because some countries that ratified it say they will step away and not commit to a second commitment period, ‘the Pacific is still persevering’ said Ronneberg.

“We are saying let’s have a discussion on the targets. We are trying to send signals that we are committed to a legally binding outcome for the Long Term Co-operative Action (LCA) process as well.

“AOSIS has been trying to push developing countries like India, China, South Africa and Brazil but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to push them when they are pointing at the industrialised countries and saying they need to take the lead and are not doing so, said Ronneberg.

Top left - Mr. Espen Ronneberg with Pacific colleagues at the UNFCCC COP 16, Cancun, 2011

At the same time, industrialiased nations are saying, we have ratified Kyoto and have our commitment under Kyoto so that’s our lead and its now your turn.

An idea that has now emerged is to allow for a transitional period after Kyoto expires in 2012.

“There is a lot of testing of the waters to see what the reaction to these types of ideas.

“AOSIS has made its point clear - we want to have certainties. While a transition may be pragmatic for some countries it does not give us any sense of security in terms of emissions, said Ronneberg.

Responding to civil society concerns that the Kyoto Protocol may be buried in Durban, McFadzien said a lot of Parties are in agreement that the architecture of the Protocol must be retained.

Centre - Ms. Diane McFadzien at AOSIS meeting, UNFCCC COP 16 Cancun, 2011

“Nobody is killing KP but if anything the transitional period may buy some time whereas we would prefer to go straight into a legally binding agreement.

“Durban will be the deciding point – if anything there is now a lot of willingness, including the industrialised countries to keep the rules and the mechanisms of KP alive, said Mcfadzien.

An attempt by South Africa to create a informal space to discuss issues in the lead up to Durban has received support from the Pacific and AOSIS, who are now actively involved in these informal discussions.

“It’s a welcome move by South Africa to meet with parties and get their positions.

“While these informal sessions are not binding, at least they are an attempt to find common understanding and we support that, said Ronneberg.

Nauru ready to take over AOSIS chair

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

Ambassador Marlene Moses

02 October 2011 Panama --- Taking over as lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) on climate change will be a challenge but Nauru’s top diplomat at the United Nations, Ambassador Marlene Moses is ready to rise up to the challenge.

Ambassador Moses takes over the reign from another equally able and strong negotiator, Ambassador Dessima Williams of Grenada, who has served as chair of AOSIS since 2007.

“I will be filling an incredibly big shoe. Grenada has set the bar very high and we can only do our best to match what Grenada has achieved on behalf of 43 countries.

“Ambassador Williams is a wonderful woman. Her dedication, personality and passion have reflected in the work she has done for AOSIS, said Ambassador Moses.

The Nauru diplomat, who has spent six years representing her island nation at the United Nations in New York, said she will continue to draw on the experiences of Grenada in the transitional period.

“I can only build on her legacy. She is a wonderful negotiator. During the transition, we will draw on her wisdom and guidance as we begin to chair AOSIS.

Ambassador Moses will also rely on the support and experiences of her colleagues in New York.

“My colleagues in New York have given me 120 percent of support. Nauru cannot let the Pacific down and we will not let them down, a confident incoming chair of AOSIS told Climate Pasifika in Panama.

On what Nauru’s chairmanship means for the Pacific, Ambassador Moses said, “This will be an opportunity for our region to raise its profile in terms of climate change”

“Nauru has capacity limitations, so we will be looking to our Pacific colleagues to provide us with expertise to chair the 43-memebr group.

“In this regard, Nauru has placed a number of advertisements in key outlets in the Pacific to advertise for a chief negotiator, deputy chief negotiator, science advisor and economic climate adviser.

“We are hoping that the Pacific will take this opportunity and come forward and support Nauru as AOSIS chair.

“Climate change is critical to the survival of Pacific Island Countries and we hope that Pacific Islanders will apply for these positions to be based in New York for the duration of Nauru’s term as chair, said Ambassador Moses.

On the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the incoming AOSIS chair said there won’t be major changes to the current AOSIS negotiating positions.

“Nauru’s position and the Pacific position are well embedded in the AOSIS position, in terms of temperature, of the Kyoto Protocol and the ambitious reduction targets.

“We are not making changes to the AOSIS position but building on what Grenada has achieved during its chairmanship. I think having this opportunity for the Pacific to be directly involved will add another level or a different perspective because the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions.

“So we bring in that urgency, we bring in that impetus that climate change negotiations cannot fail. “It’s the only legal framework available to us and we need this to continue after 2012. If I can use a quotation from a civil society in South Africa at the talks yesterday, ‘we don’t want the Kyoto Protocol to die in our soil.’ And this is exactly where we are coming from. We don’t want the Protocol to die a premature death, said Ambassador Moses.

Q and A with Ambassador Marlene Moses

From 01 January 2012, the Pacific takes over as the lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) on climate change. This role has been taken up Nauru’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Marlene Moses. She takes over from another able and strong negotiator, Ambassador Dessima Williams. Here she shares some of her initial thoughts with PACNEWS Editor and Climate Pasifika journalist, Makereta Komai.

Ambassador Marlene Moses

Q: Ambassador Moses you will take over as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in January next year. This will be an important responsibility not just for you but for the Pacific as a whole. What are your expectations?
Ambassador Moses: Nauru takes over the chair of AOSIS from 01 January 2012. In terms of the expectations for the Pacific, this will be an opportunity for the Pacific to raise its profile in terms of climate change. Nauru is a small and modest mission in New York. It has capacity limitations, so we will be looking to our Pacific colleagues to help us in chairing AOSIS, providing us with the expertise that we need as Nauru chairs the 43-memebr group. In this regard, Nauru has placed a number of advertisements in key outlets to advertise mainly for a chief negotiator, deputy chief negotiator, science advisor and economic climate adviser. We are hoping that the Pacific will take this opportunity and come forward and support Nauru as AOSIS chair. Climate change is critical to the survival of Pacific Island Countries and we hope that Pacific Islanders will apply for these positions to be based in New York for the duration of Nauru’s term as chair.


Q: The advertisements have gone out?
Ambassador Moses: Yes they have gone out. First of all, we have written to all Pacific Islands that are members of AOSIS. We have placed ads in the Pacific Law Journal and written to SPREP, SPC and PIFS where most of our experts are based. We are also providing an opportunity for the Pacific to be directly involved in mapping and driving the climate change negotiations. This is important because of our survival and the future of our nations must be central to the climate change negotiations.


Q: Any responses so far?
Ambassador Moses: We have received some applications and we are encouraging Pacific Islanders to apply for these jobs. Applications close on October 14.


Q: Apart from your push for more Pacific Islanders to be involved in climate change negotiations, what are some other important issues for the Pacific, especially now in the lead up to Durban, there are a lot of discussions on the future of the Kyoto Protocol?
Ambassador Moses: Everything is relevant to the Pacific, especially what you just mentioned about the future of the Kyoto Protocol post 2012. Nauru’s position and the Pacific position are well embedded in the AOSIS position, in terms f temperature, of the Kyoto Protocol and the ambitious reduction targets. We are not making changes to the AOSIS position but building on what Grenada has achieved during its chairmanship. I think having this opportunity for the Pacific to be directly involved will add another level or a different perspective because the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions. So we bring in that urgency, we bring in that impetus that climate change negotiations cannot fail. It’s the only legal framework available to us and we need this to continue after 2012. If I can use a quotation from a civil society in South Africa at the talks yesterday, ‘we don’t want the Kyoto Protocol to die in our soil.’ And this is exactly where we are coming from. We don’t want the Protocol to die a premature death.


Q: There are some discussions of a transitional period for Kyoto Protocol after it expires in 2012. Do we accept that?
Ambassador Moses: I think we need to look at that further but right now the survival and future of our island countries are central to how we chair the AOSIS group.


Q: Ban Ki Moon was in the Pacific a few weeks ago and in Kiribati he said the island was the ‘frontline of the frontline’ states impacted by climate change. That is the situation of many Pacific Island countries, we are the frontline states.
Ambassador Moses: Absolutely. The UN Secretary General, I believe after his visit to the Pacific now totally understands and appreciates the urgency of our situation. In New York, two years ago, we ran a Security Council resolution that linked climate change to peace and security. In July this year there was a debate at the UN Security Council and my President, Marcus Stephens was there on behalf of Pacific Island countries. We managed to get the Security Council to recognise that climate change was a security threat. We are hoping that during our term as AOSIS chair, the issue will be highlighted, respecting off course that not all AOSIS member countries share the same position


Q: I remember when Nauru took up the issue, you featured prominently at the UN talking about it
Ambassador Moses: I think Nauru’s name was profiled because we were the chair of PSIDs (Pacific Small Island Developing States in New York. But I have to tell you and place on record that it wasn’t just Nauru but the coalition of 11 PSIDS represented at the United Nations in New York. All of us with our modest missions did our best because we realised that climate change needs to be featured and promoted at the UN and the world over. If we fail, it undermines all the development gains we have achieved in the past years.


Q: That’s exactly what your President said in New York recently. He called on the UN Security Council to take further action. What did he mean?
Ambassador Moses: We are asking the Secretary General to appoint a Special Representative and we are also asking the Secretary General to assess the capacity of the UN system to see f it can respond to the security implications of climate change.


Q: So you see your role as incoming chair of AOSIS as a critical moment for the Pacific to again lift its profile to another level on climate change internationally?
Ambassador Moses: We hope this is one of the things we are able to push during our chairmanship.


Q: The current chair, Ambassador Dessima Williams has done a great job during her term?
Ambassador Moses: Absolutely. It’s a supremely difficult job. We will be filling incredibly big shoes. Grenada has set the bar very high and we can only do our best to match what Grenada has achieved on behalf f 43 countries. She is a wonderful woman. Her dedication, personality and passion have reflected in the work she has done for AOSIS.


Q: As a woman?
Ambassador Moses: Even great. I can only build on her legacy. She is a wonderful negotiator. During the transition, we will draw on her wisdom and guidance as we begin to chair AOSIS.


Q: Support from the Pacific on your chairmanship?
Ambassador Moses: 120 percent! We are grateful to Pacific Island Countries, especially my Ambassadorial colleague in New York who have given me all their support. Nauru cannot let them down and will not let them down!

EU says time too short for a legally binding global deal on climate agreement in Durban

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

02 October 2011 Panama --- The European Union (EU) is not very optimistic of a legally binding agreement coming out of Durban in December.

Its chief negotiator at the resumed climate change negotiations now underway in Panama City, Dr Artur Runge-Metzler said Durban will only be able to produce a legal framework for a global climate deal.

“In Durban we should be able to define the time line and also the scope of a future global deal, said Dr Runge-Metzler.

Despite the EU’s announcement that it’s willing to consider a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, the EU’s director general for environment outlined to journalists here in Panama, its conditions.

“We will be ready to sign a deal but we will have to see that other major countries will be able to do so also. Committing to a second period is not enough. We want to see improved environment integrity of the Protocol.

“If the EU was to move into a second commitment period, jointly all our 27 members only cover about 11 percent of the overall global emissions.

“The question is what happens to the other 89 percent especially now that Canada, Japan and Russia have indicated they are not keen on a second commitment period.

Developing countries now expect the EU to take a lead role in convincing other major emitters to commit to an extension of the Kyoto Protocol.

“It’s only natural that they turn to the EU. They are saying that we are the saviour of the Protocol.

“But there are still many unresolved issues with developing countries. Some of them are saying that you only need to commit to targets but we are saying we want to see an improved environment integrity of Kyoto, we also want see decisions on the rules of land-use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) and coverage in terms of gases. But there is still some resistance from developing countries to discuss these issues.

“For the EU, these issues are integral part of a deal on the Kyoto Protocol, said Dr Runge-Metzler.

At the Panama talks, the European Union and its 27 members hope that a draft negotiating text will form the outcome of the weeklong negotiations.

“We are hoping that a draft negotiating text comes to the table fast to make sure that we land in Durban without missing a landing spot, said the EU climate lead negotiator.

Poland as current chair of the European Union hopes Durban will fill the political gaps left in the Cancun Agreement.

Poland’s climate change negotiator, Tomasz Cruszczow told journalists the gap in emission reduction and mitigation action pledge need to be raised to an ambitious level. At the same time Durban needs to agree on how wealthy nations will mobilise the US$100 billion pledged in Copenhagen

“Our finance ministers are meeting straight after Panama, on 10th October in Luxembourg to take a final decision on the European Union commitment before Durban.

“For Durban, we need the adaptation fund, climate financing and technology. This means that the new institutions need to be efficient and effective, said Cruszczow.

Civil societies join the Kyoto Protocol band wagon

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

01 October 2011 Panama --- Civil society groups under the Climate Action Network (CAN) have given climate change State Parties an ultimatum to resolve the second commitment period for Kyoto Protocol by December this year when the global climate change negotiation moves to Durban, South Africa.

“Otherwise, we will see the Protocol buried in Durban,” warns Worldwide Fund for Nature expert, Tasneem Essop.

Essop said the key outcome for Durban is the extension of the second commitment period for Kyoto.

This is difficult when key emitters – Japan, Russia and Canada have indicated their unwillingness to go for another commitment period.

“Durban will either be a point of progress or regression, said Essop.

“It’s critical in the interest of countries vulnerable to climate change that the Kyoto Protocol is saved.

The Protocol was adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) of the Parties in Kyoto in 1997. Under the Protocol, 37 industrialised countries and the European Community have committed to reducing their emissions by an average of 5 percent against 1990 levels over the five year period, 2008-2012.

The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities.’

Essop said while the European Union’s announcement is a welcome, there is still a need to ‘convince the United States to be part of a legally binding agreement.’

The European Union is willing to sign up to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol only if commitments are forthcoming from other major emitters.

One of its conditions, however, is that other major economies will also have to commit.

“But it only makes sense to keep the architecture alive if some of the other big emitters tell us when they intend to follow. What is the point of keeping something alive if forever it is only limited to 12 or 14 per cent of global emissions? That makes no sense, EU climate change commissioner, Connie Hedegaard told Pacific Leaders in Auckland last month.

The Europeans would press the Americans as hard as they can, she promised.

“But the blind can see that in the US right now it is incredibly difficult, with their political atmosphere, and it is not very like they are moving on this issue,” she said.

Emissions per capita in the European Union have fallen to around 9 tonnes, while China's rapid growth and reliance on coal-fired generation has pushed its up to around 6 tonnes.

“The time must end when the emerging economies account for more and more emissions, have more and more of global growth but can continue to hide behind the label of 'developing country, said Hedegaard.

 

Ambassador Williams addresses the plenary at UNFCCC COP 16, Cancun, 2011

Ambassador Dessima Williams of Grenada said ‘it’s high time for leaders to step forward and guarantee the continuity of the Kyoto Protocol.

“Countries that are serious about addressing climate change should be using this meeting to raise, not lower expectations for Durban.

‘Some Parties are acting like we have all the time in the world to act, when in fact, any additional delay endangers the survival of entire nations, said Ambassador Williams.

Pacific negotiators here in Panama are grouped with AOSIS, the Group 77 and China and some are also members of the Least Developed Countries.

The weeklong Panama talks will feature the convening of the two Ad Hoc Working Groups on Long Term co-operative Action (AWG – LCA) and Kyoto Protocol (KP).

UN climate chief calls on Parties to ‘bridge the negotiations gap’ in Panama

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

01 October 2011 Panama - The ‘resumed’ climate change negotiations in Panama opened on Saturday with a call to ‘bridge the remaining differences between Parties’ in preparation for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) in Durban in December.

And, UN climate chief, Christiana Figueres urged climate negotiators to come up with some negotiating text that will eventually form the legal framework to be endorsed in Durban.

While Figueres understands the negotiations are working against the clock, she pleaded with negotiators from 192 nations to address the second commitment to Kyoto Protocol and resolve a mitigation framework under the UN climate change convention for developed and developing countries.

“This may require immediate interim arrangements that safeguard environmental integrity and ensure continuity of the regime. It should also begin to glimpse the evolution of the legal framework in the medium term, said Figueres.

Choosing to meet in Panama City is perhaps symbolic, added Figueres.

“Panama connects the North and the South by virtue of its location. And by virtue of its legendary canal, it connects the East and the West.

“In a similar manner, this session needs to clearly identify where Parties’ positions connect in

order to advance towards Durban on a firm footing, said Figueres.

She said Durban is within our reach.

“Although we have much work ahead of us, it is encouraging to see the progress already achieved this year in giving life to the Cancun Agreements. The agreements have many components, but I want to highlight the design of the Green Climate Fund and Technology Executive Committee, as well as progress on the Adaptation Committee.

“I trust that this session in Panama, bridge between two oceans and two continents, can inspire you to build a firm bridge towards Durban. In particular, I would like to encourage you to make this a firm bridge based on texts, produced by you, which would be considered in Durban. With this Panamanian bridge, Durban can be the success it has to be, said Figueres.

UNFCCC COP 17 hosted a booth at UNFCCC COP 16 in Cancun, 2010

Attempting to bridge that gap is the South African delegation here in Panama. It’s conducting several informal meetings at the margins of the talks to engage the views of Parties on the way forward to achieving an ideal global frame work to flight climate change in Durban.

South Africa is reaching out to Parties to respond to specific questions on what they expect in the final outcomes of Durban, the South African delegation informed the opening plenary sessions of the Panama negotiations Saturday.

Similarly in the lead up to the Cancun climate change meeting, hosts Mexico canvassed the views of Parties at informal sessions before the COP16 meeting December 2010.

South Africa engaged former United States President, Bill Clinton to kick-start the informal discussions in the hope that Durban will produce a legally binding climate change framework that will rescue the world from the climate change crisis.

 

Panama climate talks begins with calls second commitment Kyoto Protocol

By Makereta Komai

Climate Pasifika Media 01 October 2011 Panama --- Climate change negotiators from 192 countries convene in Panama in an attempt to keep alive global efforts to fight the impacts of climate change.

The ‘resumed session’ is a follow up to the last round of negotiations convened in Bonn in June this year. Renewed talks here in Panama have been described by the international media as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the 17th Conference of the Parties in Durban in December.

One immediate political hurdle is the future of the Kyoto Protocol which runs out in 2012. It’s the only legally binding agreement which requires greenhouse gas emissions from polluters, grouped as Annex 1 countries under the Protocol.

Barely a year to go before the commitment period expire, most developing countries supported now by the 27 members of the European Union, are calling for a second commitment period.

Protestors calling for Kyoto Protocol to remain (UNFCCC COP 16 Cancun, 2010)

Most negotiating groups including the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), G77 and China, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the African Union have expressed their intention to have the second commitment period run from 2013-2017.

‘We want to ensure that there is no gap after 2012 when Kyoto expires. For small island states, time is short and our existence and viability is under serious threat, said AOSIS chair and Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dessima Williams.

“Avoiding a gap is essential for the conclusion of an acceptable global climate change regime.”

AOSIS countries, made up of 43 small island developing states in the Pacific, Caribbean and the Indian Ocean demand a legally binding agreement and a second commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol, by COP 17 in Durban.

This is more so when 2010 recorded the highest greenhouse gas emissions ever. Each time we meet, we find accelerating changes to our climate and yet we don’t seem to reach a conclusion on an agreement to fix climate change, said Ambassador Williams.

The Panama talks hopes to lay the groundwork for a broad deal that would include national commitments to curb carbon emissions blamed for rising temperatures and guidelines on distributing billions of dollars in aid to small islands and other poor countries seen as most vulnerable to climate change.

UN-backed scientists have warned that the rise in carbon emissions must stop by mid-decade or else damage from climate change will be irreversible, with the planet set for more droughts, floods and natural disasters.

Emerging economies such as China, now the world's largest emitter have welcomed the idea of a new round under Kyoto, which requires cuts only by wealthy nations. Other than the European Union, no major nation likely to be affected by a Kyoto extension has been enthusiastic. Canada, Japan and Russia are all opposed to the extension saying that any binding action must include emerging powers.

It’s understood that Australia and Norway have sought to break the deadlock with a joint proposal that calls for the Durban summit to set a target of reaching a new, binding climate treaty by 2015.