South Africa welcomes the recent announcement and proposal by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a fund of 100 billion United States dollar (USD) per annum to address climate change. While the scale of resources needed to address the climate challenge is estimated to be four times that amount, in the region of USD 400 billion, this is the first announcement that is in the ballpark of what will be needed to seriously address the global challenge of climate change.
South Africa also welcomes the emphasis on the need for predictability of finance, transparency in process and equitable representation of developed and developing countries in the governance structures. South Africa's chief climate change negotiator, Alf Wills said: "The announcement will certainly contribute positively to creating some momentum in the international negotiations. With only five months to go before the meeting in Copenhagen, it is absolutely essential to build trust between developed and developing countries and the kind of positive signal and leadership shown by Prime Minister Brown is what are urgently needed now."
Mr Wills went on to say that the details on how to raise the finance required more consideration. Specifically, the proposal that developing countries should also contribute to the fund, is at odds with the key principle of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, that all countries have common but differentiated responsibilities in the fight against climate change. Given their historic responsibility for the emissions that caused climate change in the first place, developed countries have a commitment to provide finance, technology and capacity building to make it possible for developing countries to take action beyond those that they have already planned for.
This will be a key issue in the G8 Summit next week, when the world looks towards the eight richest countries of the world for political leadership on ambitious and legally binding emission reduction commitments. A vision that is shared by all countries of the world, for an inclusive, fair and effective climate regime must be based on sound science, must balance adaptation and mitigation and must recognise that the priority of developing countries is to eradicate poverty and promote development.
In addition, a shared vision must be about providing the necessary technology, finance and capacity building to enable developing countries to take action against climate change. It could also include an aspirational long term global goal of 50% reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by mid century in order to limit average global temperature increase to well below two degrees centigrade. A global goal of this nature must be accompanied by a commitment from all developed countries to a reduction of at least 80% below 1990 level in 2050, and must also be underpinned by legally binding midterm targets for reduction in emissions by 2020 in the range of 25 to 40% below 1990 levels, that are consistent with the urgency indicated by the science.
Developing countries, for their part, will make a serious contribution with our own resources, but to do more, and to deviate substantially from business as usual, international funding, technology transfer and capacity building will be critical.
Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Chief Director: Communications
Tel: 012 310-3122
Cell: 083-490-2871
E-mail: amodise@deat.gov.za
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za/)
