STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY H.E. AMB. BYRON BLAKE, DELEGATION OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, AT CLOSING PLENARY OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON LONG-TERM COOPERATIVE ACTION (AWGLCA) OF THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (Bonn, Germany, 12 June 2008)

Mr. Chairman the Group of 77 and China would like to express it appreciation to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC for all their hard work during these sessions. The Group would also like to acknowledge your excellent leadership in this process. The Group again expresses its appreciation to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Germany for the facilities made available to us.

The Group of 77 and China reiterates the expressions of condolences to our members who have suffered from man-made and natural disasters within the recent past.

Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China has always emphasized that climate change poses serious risks and challenges particularly to developing countries and therefore demands urgent global action and response. The Group is concerned about the fact that while the adverse effects of climate change and the associated phenomena threaten the sustainable development, livelihoods and the very existence of many developing countries and in particular Africa, the LDCs, the LLDCs, SIDS and disaster prone developing countries; the scientific evidence in support of our claim is now globally recognised and the COP in Bali established a plan for urgent immediate and long term action: we are yet to see that urgency in the response by Parties.

Mr. Chairman we have made some progress here but we must judge our progress against the COP resolution "to urgently enhance the implementation of the convention in order to achieve its ultimate objective in full accordance with its principles and commitments". There is a two-year period to produce the required programme and six months have expired.

Mr. Chairman, against that clear mandate of the AWG LCA's work towards enabling the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012, the Group notes, with deep concern, the efforts on the part of some parties to link AWG LCA with other processes.

This threatens to dilute the goal of the AWG LCA, we wish to reiterate that the AWG LCA builds upon other processes under the Convention but does not replace them.

Mr. Chairman, we heard all parties express their desire to advance the Bali process. However, we have also witnessed inconsistencies in their proposals with regards to enabling mechanisms such as National Communications, the Nairobi Work Program, Financial Mechanism, Development and Transfer of Technology and Capacity Building. Mr. Chairman progress on these issues is an integral part of the process of building trust and confidence and a demonstration of preparation to address the future.

The Bali Action Plan is geared towards the enhancing action to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the convention. It requires us, on the basis of a shared vision for long-term cooperation action and in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities to do the following:

- Make the monumental effort required to mitigate climate change, in the shortest possible time;
- Enhance the level of adaptation to the damage already done and that being done with each day we delay mitigation action;
- Provide for development and transfer of technology to support action on mitigation and adaptation;
- Provide the financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation adaptation and technology cooperation.

Mr. Chairman, the magnitude of these requirements demands a new mindset and approach from all of us. The Group is concerned that we have detected little appreciation for the approach we need to take to get to the quality recommendations which will be required in Poznan and more so in Copenhagen.

Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China looks to the beginning of a new approach in Ghana, we would like to begin to focus on achieving the integrated and comprehensive common understanding of the where we are going and what we are doing and precisely how and with what enabling means we are going to get there. Towards that end, the Group is anxious to receive your scenario note, as early as possible, for the next session so that we can be guided by it during our preparations.

Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China wishes to underscore that our work during the upcoming sessions should be guided by the principles of the Convention and Parties' obligation to "protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities." In this regard, the Convention mandates developed country Parties to take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects. It is essential that this be proven in the outcome of this process.

Thank You Mr. Chairman.