Date Published: 12/14/09

PRESS  RELEASE                                                          14 TH December, 2009

CLIMATE CONFERENCE: EMISSIONS REDUCTION VITAL TO TALKS -AFRICAN GROUP

After a showdown at the main session of the UN climate talks, in Copenhagen on Monday, African Ministers of Environment held an important meeting to review the situation of negotiations towards actualizing a positive outcome for Africa at the ongoing Cop 15 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The meeting well attended by all Environment Ministers attending the UNFCCC conference including Nigerian Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey discussed on the need to close ranks against divisive elements and the need for the developed countries to take cognizance of the two pronged parameters vital to addressing the issue of climate change, viz: the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Action Plan.

In his remarks Mr. John Odey said “the key issue vital to any successful negotiation is the Kyoto protocol and the Bali Action Plan. The Kyoto protocol sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year FIRST COMMITMENT period 2008-2012. The major distinction between the Protocol and the Convention is that while the Convention encouraged industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions; the Protocol commits them to do so. But right now discussions so far by the developed countries have failed to address the issue of cutting emissions.  Rather what is more on the burner is the issue of Long term Cooperative Action (LCA) which does not do justice to the whole agreement.”

According to Odey, “ Right now, we are going to lose everything, if we go along with just LCA (Long Term Cooperative Action) process, and we may end up without dealing with the necessary issues as addressed by the Kyoto Protocol."

Mr. Djemouoi Kamez, Chief Negotiator Africa Working Group also shared same view with Mr. Odey. In his own remarks he counseled the African group that any consultations or discussion that leaves out the Kyoto treaty should not be accepted.

African countries believe that  significant progress can only be made  in climate negotiations if the the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol is given due attention. Mr. Mama Konate, Negotiator from Mali said “the Kyoto Protocol is of Paramount important to Africa; we can never accept the killing of Kyoto protocol. The Killing of Kyoto protocol… is the killing of Africa and before we accept that as negotiators we should all die first”.

Adebayo Thomas

    DCPS