Local News

Grenadian Minister calls for binding outcome on climate change

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, November 15, 2009 – Grenada’s Environment Minister Hon. Michael Church is adamant that an international legally binding outcome on Climate Change is still feasible at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled for Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18. The Grenada Minister is leading the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS) delegation to the PRE-COP Meeting on November 16 and 17. Invitations to the PRE-COP have been sent to a range of Ministers central to the COP-15 negotiations.
The conference will also provide an opportunity for these Ministers to exchange views and ideas on key issues ahead of COP-15 in December and provide real momentum and engage deeply to prepare the ground for successful outcomes at the Copenhagen Conference.

The Pre-COP consultations will take place on November 16-17 and will include discussions on key outstanding issues, in particular those relating to mitigation by developed and developing countries and financial support to be provided to vulnerable countries to assist them in adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Mr. Church believes it is possible to conclude an internationally legally binding agreement, although he acknowledges that progress to date has been slow. “All the legal requirements for a legally binding outcome are in place” he said. “What is missing is the political will among the developed countries to agree on ambitious emission reduction targets and on financing to assist vulnerable developing countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change”.

“Success at Copenhagen would be measured, among other things, by the level of ambition of the emission reduction targets adopted by developed countries and by the level of assistance given by the international community to developing countries to address the consequences of climate change, particularly through new, additional and predictable financial resources and institutional support mechanisms” he added.

He reiterated the AOSIS’ scientifically-grounded that in order to achieve the long term goal that would be favourable to all the nations of the world increased and sustained efforts had to be made to reduce global warming by keeping temperature increases as far below 1.5 degrees Celcius and emissions as far below 350 ppm co2 equivalents.

This call by Minister Church, follows on a similar statement by the South African Minister of Water And Environmental, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, on November 10, in which she stated that “we will not be politically pressurised into accepting a weak outcome that re-interprets the Convention and the Bali Action Plan to the disadvantage of developing countries.  We would rather work from within the Africa Group to seek a suspension of proceedings and additional negotiating time”.

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