G-77, China fight back against industrialised world at Bali

Indonesia News.Net - Wednesday 12th December, 2007 (IANS)

The Group of 77 countries and China Wednesday expressed 'extreme disappointment' that there had been no decision at the UN climate change conference that would allow the implementation of green technologies identified by developing countries.

Speaking on behalf of G-77 and China, Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan at the UN, delivered this blunt statement at the plenary session of the Bali summit that started its high-level segment earlier in the day.

Technology transfer to mitigate emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) that warm the earth's atmosphere has been one of the most contentious issues at the Bali summit.

Industrialised countries have blocked discussions on the plea that it was up to private companies to transfer technologies, though it is supposed to be one of the four building blocks of the global move to address climate change, according to Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Akram told the delegates at the plenary: 'The development and transfer of technology to developing countries through an effective mechanism supported by adequate and predictable financial resource base is vital to enabling to developing countries top face the challenges posed by climate change.

'We would like to express our disappointment over the manner in which we had to struggle for long hours to restore this important item on the SBI (subsidiary body on implementation of the UNFCCC) agenda. It is our hope that this subject will be given the priority it deserves.

'We are also extremely disappointed not to have reached agreement on having a decision at this COP (conference of parties to the framework convention) that will allow the implementation of the technologies identified by developing countries. Ironically, developed country parties do state that technology development and transfer is one of the building blocks for the design of future climate change regime.'

There was more criticism of the Bali summit from Akram.

'Capacity building under the convention and the protocol remains an area of high priority for the G-77. Unfortunately, this too has not received the attention it deserves. We also express our disappointment over the difficulties and hurdles that we continue to face from developed country parties on this issue. The most recent deadlock at this session is a clear manifestation of that lack of understanding and flexibility on the part of our partners.'

Expressing concern that the move towards finalising a Bali roadmap had not progressed 'as much as we would have liked', Akram said: 'We will work with others to bring our deliberations to a successful conclusion. To do so, flexibility will be required from all sides.

'We must use this possibility to convert the climate challenge into a climate opportunity. However, this endeavour should not result in the erosion of the convention or the Kyoto Protocol, or the replacement of these by a less equitable instrument.

'We would like to reiterate that the UNFCCC, and its Kyoto Protocol, remain the central multilateral framework for cooperative actions to address climate change.'

Earlier in his speech, Akram had said: 'The G-77 and China consider that the provision of financial resources to the developing countries by the developed countries is a commitment under the convention. Financing is one of the key components and one of the main building blocks also for enhancing the implementation of the convention.

'There is a huge gap between the funding currently available through the financial mechanisms of the convention and the funding needs of the developing countries.

'While market based solutions are important, nonetheless, given the scale and magnitude of the resources required, the close engagement of governments and public sector funding and intervention will remain critical.'

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