Transcript The role of Government towards building consensus on COP 17

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT:
TOWARDS BUILDING CONSENSUS
NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE SEMINAR ON CLIMATE
CHANGE
28-29 NOVEMBER 2011
OVERVIEW
1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS
2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE
3. HOW GOVERNMENTS CAN CONTRIBUTE
4. DURING THE CONFERENCE
1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS[1]
• The international regime for climate change is guided by
the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol
• Parties meet annually, under the auspices of Conference
of Parties to the UNFCCC (CoP) and the Meeting of
Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP)
• The CoP/CMP has a representation of Member States,
Observer States and Observer Organisations, with ONLY
member states engaging in negotiations
1. PERSPECTIVE OF NEGOTIATIONS [2]
• Observer Organisation comprise of UN Bodies, IPU for
Parliaments, Civil Society, ITU for Labour, etc, increasingly
having a significant influence as the role of public
diplomacy is increasing in a globalised world
• The highest decision making bodies are the CoP and the
CMP, and they consider decisions presented by AWG-LCA
and AWG-KP, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)
and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
advice (SBSTA) (6 bodies meeting)
• The CoP President is elected on the first day and presides
over the CoP/CMP, as such 6 simultaneous meetings that
will result in decisions under each of these bodies
2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE [1]
• The Convention makes provision for two intersessional
meetings, even though additional meetings can be agreed
to by parties, as was the case this year. In 2011,
• The first intersessional meeting held in April, Bangkok deliberated
on the mandate for negotiation as to whether its Bali or Cancun,
compromise was setting an agenda that covers both the Cancun
elements and the Bali Action Plan
• The second meetings held in in June, Bonn saw slow progress on
technical issues while the more central and difficult aspects of the
Cancun or Bali decisions did not progress as well
• The third meeting was in October in Panama where the focus was
on generating negotiating text for Durban, with text ranging from
being compilation of views, facilitators notes and negotiation text
2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE[2]
• Parallel to the ‘formal’ negotiations in the intersessionals,
the
CoP/CMP
Presidency
undertake
‘informal
consultations’ to muster political convergence; South Africa
undertook several consultations, in Berlin, New Zealand,
South Africa, New York in 2011
• Other forums do deal with issues of climate change and
also assist in making progress in the formal negotiations,
such as G20, Major Economies Forum, and a number of
sector specific international forums
• South Africa negotiates as part of the Africa Group, and
coordinated with the BASIC group, where areas of
convergence are explored towards a common position
2. IN THE RUN-UP TO THE CONFERENCE[3]
• EIT'S
• OTHER
OECD'S
EU
BASIC
USA
SIDS/
LDC's
South
Africa • AFRICA
• ALBA
3. HOW CAN GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTE[1]
• In the formal process, the contribution from various arms of
government pertain to supporting the development a
position for the country hence influence groups we
negotiate as part of, sector departments availing specialist
negotiators (particularly IMC depts.)
• Contributing to stakeholder groupings such as International
Parliamentary Union, International Trade Unions, Local
Government take positions as Observer Organisations that
are taken heed by Parties
• Continuous engagements in political forums by various
government departments participate in, such as SADC,
AU, BRICS, Binational Commissions, etc
3. HOW GOVERNMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE [2]
• Espousing the South African position in the informal
engagements, and seek convergence at various forums
such as: Finance at the G20 Ministerial; Energy at the International
Energy Agency; Transport at International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), etc
4. DURING THE CONFERENCE [1]
• First week in Durban is the negotiators meeting, with the
Chief Negotiator continuously engaging with: (i)
negotiators delegation daily (ii) broader South African
delegation every three days (iii) stakeholder groups every
other day
• The second week is a Ministerial segment, where various
Ministers of the IMC shall be engaging in the negotiations
following various thematic areas coordinated by the
Leader of the National Delegation- Minister of Water and
Environment
• ALL ARMS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN
MOBILISING CONSENSUS THROUGH THEIR STAKEHOLDER
GROUPINGS
THANK YOU