Roadmap"
13 June 2007
The South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus
van Schalkwyk is currently in Riksgransen, Sweden, attending a Ministerial
meeting involving the 25 key countries engaged in the current climate change
debate. At this meeting the delegations are also directly observing impacts of
climate change on livelihoods and ecosystems in Lapland. This meeting builds on
the outcomes of the G8 Summit and the outreach session with the Heads of State
and Government from South Africa, Brazil, India, China and Mexico (the
so-called Outreach five) in Heiligendamm, Germany, last week.
One of the key aims of the Ministerial meeting in Sweden is to give further
substance to the political signal received from the G8 plus 5 Heads of State in
Germany last week and to outline a clear programme of work with a view to
concluding negotiations, by the end of 2009, on the nature of commitments and
the architecture of the climate regime after 2012. The immediate focus is on
what could be achieved during the next round of climate change negotiations to
be held in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007. It will be critically important
that the meeting in Bali gives greater urgency to the negotiations under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto
Protocol.
Speaking from Sweden, Minister Van Schalkwyk said: "It is clear to me that
we need a significant advance in the multi-lateral negotiations if we want to
build a more inclusive, flexible and environmentally effective climate regime
under the United Nations (UN). New initiatives and agreements that complement
the multilateral regime such as those recently proposed by the United Nations
America (USA) are welcome, as long as they feed into the multilateral system
and are not aimed at displacing it."
"In this context, I am encouraged by the strong political signal on the
urgency of action and the need for intensified negotiations from the G8 Summit
last week. Progress will depend on a package deal that is capable of gaining
broad political consensus, that balances the key interests and concerns of all
countries and that does not present a one-size-fits-all solution. Though we
have different responsibilities, we also have a common responsibility to act
within our respective capabilities and in accordance with our national
circumstances."
"A package deal on a comprehensive climate regime after 2012 should balance
the following key elements:
* Adaptation for all, but in particular for the poor and vulnerable developing
countries.
* More ambitious and legally binding emission reduction targets for all
developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol.
* Enhanced mitigation actions by developing countries that is measurable,
reportable and that can be verified under the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change.
* Managing the unintended consequences of our adaptation and mitigation
policies and response measures for the economies of other countries.
* Technology development, diffusion and commercialisation, with an emphasis on
research, development and diffusion in support of adaptation, the
decarbonisation of our economies, and economic diversification.
* The deforestation issue.
* Investment, incentives and financing."
"A fresh start in Bali will need to weave together these different strands
into one multilateral framework. If any strand breaks, the rope will not be
strong enough to carry the load. The three mitigation strands that will be deal
breakers are (i) deeper emission reductions for all Kyoto Parties, (ii)
re-engagement of the United States of America (USA) in the full multilateral
process and binding emission reductions, and (iii) more urgent and measurable
action by developing countries."
"Moving forward will require bold political leadership. By 2009 we will need
a common understanding that all developed countries need to be playing on the
same field, and that developing countries need to be playing on a matching
field, one which involves the recognition of and positive incentives for their
tangible action in contributing to our common responsibilities."
"By the end of this year, the Convention Dialogue where we are discussing
enhanced action by developing countries will come to a formal end. What is
therefore required in Bali in December this year, is that we turn the Dialogue
discussions into negotiations. In addition, the USA and Australia must engage
in the full multi-lateral process. An end date of 2009, at the latest, must be
formally set for agreeing future emission reduction targets for all developed
countries under the Protocol and we must formulate a clear work programme for
completing our negotiations under the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol within
this time frame. This is our Roadmap for Bali. We must turn talk into action;
discussions into negotiations. Should this fail, we will place an unmanageable
burden on future generations."
Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
13 June 2007
