Mr President, your Excellencies and delegates.
At the outset I reiterate our message of condolence to the peoples of the Philippines and their neighbours for the tragic loss of life and property resulting from the recent typhoon.
This tragedy underlines the real world consequences described in the fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) , which reconfirmed that human induced global warming and resulting climate change is unequivocal; that without urgently and significantly increasing ambition, the global surface temperature will exceed 2 degrees Celsius. In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap report confirmed that Africa is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change even if the “Emissions Gap” is closed and warming is kept to below a two degree increase.
The need for urgent and ambitious action, demands a two-fold focus in Warsaw:
Firstly, the full implementation of the post 2012 Cancun, Durban and Doha agreements; in particular, to close the pre 2020 mitigation and adaptation ambition gaps, while recognising that this can only be achieved by also closing the finance, technology gap and capacity gaps.
Secondly, we need a clear roadmap, via Lima, to conclude in Paris the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) negotiation of a legal agreement under the Convention, which is applicable to all.
In order to fully implement the commitments already made, Parties must urgently:
- Ratify the Kyoto Protocol amendments for a second Commitment Period;
- Finalise the Kyoto accounting rules; as well as clarifying Convention pledges; and
- Agree on urgent work of Convention institutions.
Agree on a concrete adaptation work programme under the Nairobi Work Programme, as well as National Adaptation Plan guidelines and adaptation finance.
It would be remiss of me if I did not lament the distinct lack of progress on establishing a loss and damage institutional arrangement as agreed in Doha. Furthermore, it is critical that measures to address loss and damage are supported by finance.
Mr President
Adequate and sustained finance for this full implementation is key. Warsaw must address the scaling up mobilisation of finance up to US$ 100 billion per year by 2020. The governance arrangement for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has progressed well. However, the fund is currently an empty shell. Warsaw should agree to mobilise at least US$ 20 billion a year for the GCF over the next 4 years. Similarly, the Adaptation Fund is on the verge of bankruptcy and urgently requires significant replenishment. This will create confidence in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and signal the international serious commitment to address the climate crisis.
Mr President
On the urgent need to raise pre-2020 levels of ambition, we recognise that current 2012 to 2020 ambition is inadequate. Therefore, Warsaw must adopt a work-plan for adaptation and mitigation action, supported by adequate means of implementation, to close the ambition gap.
We are deeply concerned about recent announcements by Japan and Australia to significantly reduce their commitments. Taken together with uncertainties around finance, this sends a very negative signal about the sincerity and commitment of these Parties.
Mr President
In 2011 we initiated a four year negotiation under the Durban Platform, of an inclusive, fair, ambitious and binding Protocol, legal instrument or agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention, applicable to all.
We must attract the meaningful participation of all countries and must therefore, be guided by the principles and provisions of the Convention. We must be comprehensive and build on the existing system. We must be guided by science. We must provide equitable access to sustainable development for developing countries, while ensuring environmental integrity.
We must deliver practical results that add up to adequate mitigation and adaptation action, which are fair, comparable, but differentiated.
Mr President, we are mid-way in a four year negotiating process and South Africa is committed to work constructively with you to set the foundation for a fair, ambitious and legal outcome at the 2015 Paris Conference.
Finally, we would like to express our appreciation to the people and government of Poland for the warm hospitality we have received in Warsaw.
Thank you
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