STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. MANASVI SRISODAPOL, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIR OF THE GROUP OF 77 FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA, AT THE JOINT CLOSING PLENARY OF THE 22ND SESSION OF CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES (COP22), THE 12TH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (CMP12) AND THE 1ST SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT (CMA1) (Marrakech, Morocco, 18 November 2016)

Mr. President,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group would like to extend our deep gratitude to the Presidency of Morocco for the hard work and the warm hospitality extended to all Parties.

3. We also thank the Executive Secretary and the Secretariat for their relentless support and contribution to the organization of the Conference and in servicing the Group of 77 and China coordination meetings. We are also grateful to all Parties for their efforts and cooperation in working constructively with us to reach meaningful outcomes and maintain the Paris spirit at this Conference.

Mr. President,

4. We came to Marrakech with a challenging task, the challenge of turning agreements into action. COP22 can indeed be considered a "COP for action". The speedy and unprecedented entry into force of the Paris Agreement signals the level of urgency and importance with which our leaders and the international community attach to combating climate change. We are here to accelerate climate actions, and this has been underscored by the Marrakesh Action Proclamation which we endorsed yesterday and the tireless efforts of the High Level Champions over the past year.

Mr. President,

5. While the Paris Agreement has entered into force at an unprecedented speed, it is regrettable that the same cannot be said about the Doha Amendment. After nearly four years, only 73 parties have deposited their instruments of acceptance to the Doha Amendment. The Group reiterates that the unfinished business of the pre-2020 actions and ambition, which are long overdue, must be urgently addressed. The Group sees the Kyoto Protocol as a fundamental building block in our post-2020 efforts. We urge all Parties that have not done so to ratify the Doha Amendment expeditiously.

6. The Group would like to reiterate the relevance and priority we attach to adaptation. Adaptation is a matter of urgency for developing countries whose capacities to carry out actions to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change are limited. We therefore urge that progress in implementing the Paris Agreement must reflect balance between adaptation and mitigation.

Mr. President,

7. It is of utmost importance for us to send a clear message to the global community that we must all be part of the global climate solution. We are pleased that the Marrakech Conference was able to achieve some clarity and good progress has been made. This include the adoption of the Terms of Reference and initial work plan for the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB), the established linkage between technology mechanism and the financial mechanism, the indicative framework for the five-year rolling work plan of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM), the conclusion of the Third Comprehensive Review of the implementation of the framework for capacity building under the Convention and under the Kyoto Protocol.

8. Nonetheless, there remain outstanding issues which require further discussion after Marrakech. The Group places a priority on scaling up of finance, in particular adaptation finance. There can be no enhanced action without enhanced support. Support enables action and action needs support. Enhanced action needs enhanced support in the provision of scaled-up financial resources, technology and capacity-building. Action must cover both adaptation and mitigation.

9. Developing country Parties are bearing the brunt of the increasing adverse affects of climate change, and are the least equipped to cope with this problem on our own. The extent to which we can undertake our actions depends on the implementation by developed country Parties of their obligations related to finance, technology and capacity-building.

10. The provision of scaled-up financial resources should cover all developing country Parties undertaking climate change actions under the Convention. To this end, we have adopted decisions on guidance to the two operating entities of the financial mechanism, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility, as well as on guidance to the Standing Committee on Finance.

11. We are pleased that much work has been done during this Conference on finance. There has been good guidance to the operating entities although much more work remains for all issues to finance. We note the adoption of the decision on long-term finance but we have yet to see clarity or assurances on the mobilization and provision of scaled up financial resources for developing countries, in particular for achieving a balance of financing for mitigation and adaptation.

12. The strong and united call of the Group of 77 and China for certainty that the Adaptation Fund serves the Paris Agreement has not been fully heard. Despite our call, against it, the conditions required for this to be triggered are still in the decision. Hence, the predictability and adequacy of financing for adaptation remain important difficulties to be resolved.

13. The Group reiterates that means of implementation are critical for actions on mitigation and adaptation both pre and post-2020. Adequate, predictable and sustained finance, technology and capacity-building must be ensured to assist developing country Parties to enhance our climate actions.

Mr. President,

14. In closing, the Group wishes to once again thank you in guiding us to a successful conclusion of this Conference. The Group is committed to engaging positively and constructively and look forward to a smooth transition to the next COP Presidency. On this note, the Group extends its sincere congratulations to Fiji and reiterates the Group's full support and cooperation to Fiji and our full confidence in the leadership that Fiji will bring to our work next year. We also appreciate the announcement by Poland to host COP24 and look forward to building up momentum together as we approach 2018.

I thank you.