Transcript PRESENTATION TO THE CONS SEMINAR 28 OCT

Presentation to the South African Parliament
on the occasion of the Pre-COP17 Climate
Change National Consultative Seminar
Cape Town : 28 October 2011
Theme: “Outcomes and Implications for the
parties on previous COPs and MOPs”
Presenter: Buyelwa Sonjica
Introduction
• The climate change dialogue is an evolving process
• It is guided by the UNFCC , KYOTO Protol,Bali Action
Plan, Copenhagen Accord and the Cancun Outcome
• The last outcome becomes the main basis for further
negotiations
UNFCC
• It sets the parameters within which the negotiations are
pursued
• It remains an important reference and guide for the
negotiators
• Article 3 of the Convention is of particular importance
because it talks to the principle of common but differentiated
• The right of countries to promote sustainable development
• It acknowledges that there are unique socio-economic
conditions for each party and that climate change policies and
systems should be integrated with national development
programmes
KYOTO PROTOCOL
• The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of
the Kyoto Protocol is that it 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 period 2008-2012.
• On the other hand, developing countries must commit to actions to
reduce gas emissions depending on the availability of resources and
without denying their right to industrialise their economies
• The major distinction between the Protocol and the Convention is that
while the Convention encouraged industrialised countries to stabilize GHG
emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so.
Cont: KYOTO PROTOCOL
• Recognizing that developed countries are principally
responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in
the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of
industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on
developed nations under the principle of “common but
differentiated responsibilities.
THE BALI ACTION PLAN
• It mapped-out a programme to be pursued by
the parties
• The programme stood on four key elements;
namely
o
Mitigation
o
Adaptation
o
Finance and
o
Technology
PRE-CANCUN NEGOTIATIONS
• The negotiations focused on the ff;
– Building a transparent & comparable framework
for the US under the Convention while negotiating
the second commitment period (2CP)under the
Kyoto Protocol (KP)
– The US refuse to join the KP until China do so
– China re-iterate its stance as a developing country
with massive needs to eradicating poverty
IMPLICATIONS FOR PARTIES
• Climate change is a central aspect of the
broader environmental programme
• Parties must therefore continue to implement
in earnest environmental management
policies and legislation
• National development plan should
incorporate climate change
CONT: IMPLICATIONS
• Countries should continuously work on enhancing their
capacity to deal with natural catastrophes
• Education and empowerment of citizens and this is inclusive
of public participation initiatives
• Parliaments must monitor and oversee implementation
• It is important that a two-track legally binding agreement is
reached because this will guarantee that all countries will be
accountable including the US
• Adaptation remains the most important for developing
countries especially for the African continent.
• Countries should continue to build their technological
capacity to enhance their productivity for agricultural
products
IMPLICATIOS FOR PARTIES
• It would be important that we insist on the
separation of the WTO issues from climate
change issues because the latter will be
sacrificed
Closing Remarks
I thank you for the opportunity.