STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. WALTER SCHULDT, DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIR OF THE G77 AND CHINA FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE CLOSING PLENARY OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE PARIS AGREEMENT, THIRD PART OF THE FIRST SESSION (Bonn, Germany, 18 May 2017)

Madam Co-Chairs,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, the Group would like to thank you, Madame Co-Chairs, and all the facilitators under your able leadership, for your efforts during this session.

After the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement and the important decisions adopted at COP22 in Marrakesh, it is essential that the international community realizes that this Ad Hoc Working Group has being able to make progress in concrete textual work. To that effect, we have been engaged constructively with a view to maintain the delicate balance achieved in Paris and to ensure that the implementation of the Paris Agreement reflects equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances.

1. On further guidance in relation to the mitigation section of decision1/CP. 21, the Group takes note of the invitation to present focused submissions based on the elements and issues outlined in the informal note prepared by the co-facilitators, without prejudice to further work under this agenda item, as well as the request for an in-session round table during the COP23. In any case, we stress that this guidance should be developed in a flexible manner to accommodate the diversity of NDCs and the national circumstances of developing country Parties and the nationally determined nature of contributions.

2. On further guidance in relation to the adaptation communication, the Group of 77 and China took an active and constructive position during the informal consultations. We had an interesting discussion about the purpose, possible elements, linkages, vehicles and flexibility of the communication, as well on the possible "skeleton" or structure of the outcome on this agenda item. The G77 and China provided specifics written inputs for purpose, elements and "skeleton" or structure. The Group also expects that the roundtables address the linkages with support by developed country Parties, transparency and Global Stock-take. The informal note of the facilitators captures the debate and the views of parties during the session and we are happy to find in the draft conclusions some possible ways to advance our work to COP23. We would like to recall that adaptation is a priority of developing countries as evidenced by our active involvement in this issue, and a key component of the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

3. On modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework for action and support, the Group is pleased with the progress made, recognizing that there is still much work to be done. We look forward to preparing our targeted submissions, which will give us the opportunity to provide our views on these elements contained in the informal note prepared by the co-facilitators and detail substantive options under each of these elements, without limiting the continuation of discussion during the next session. With respect to the framework for transparency of support, we stress the need that all financial flows provided and mobilized should take into account the needs, priorities and flexibilities to be provided to developing country parties. We insist that the objective of this framework should be to clarify information on financial support that developed countries provide and mobilize to developing countries for their implementation of climate actions under the Paris Agreement; and enable developing countries to evaluate their needs and define their finance priorities. We look forward to participating in the pre-sessional roundtable and we hope it will allow inclusive, open, and broad participation of all Parties and facilitate technical discussions on how cross cutting issues listed in Article 13, including paragraphs 2-4 are considered in Parties' submissions.

4. On matters relating to the Global Stocktake, the Group believes that we have made some progress at this session, with greater understanding emerging from our discussions with respect to the context, linkages, scope, purpose, modalities, information needs, sources of inputs, and outcome of the GST. However, we continue to look for convergence because much divergence remains. The issues and elements that have been raised by Parties with respect to the GST have been reflected in the informal note on agenda item 6, without prejudice to Parties' reflections on various aspects of the specific contents in the informal note, including on the possible outline. The Group wishes to stress, in this connection, that the comprehensive scope, its facilitative nature, its outcome, and the role of the GST in the implementation of the Paris Agreement as stated in the Paris Agreement should be fully reflected in the results of our negotiations going forward.

5. On modalities and procedures for the effective operation of the committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance, the Group welcomes the call for focused submissions by 15 September 2017 session. We would like to thank the co-facilitators for their informal note, but also high- light that Parties should continue putting forward their views on any issues or aspects in relation to the operationalization of Article 15 as they seem relevant. The Group considers that further discussions need to be taken on the manner in which the measures to be taken by the Committee could be related with financial, technology development and transfer, and capacity building mechanisms that provides guidance or assistance developing country Parties. The G77 and China is willing to work constructively with all parties to move towards a negotiating text on the item at the end of COP 23, laying a solid foundation for the timely completion of the work in 2018.

6. On the Adaptation Fund, the Group reiterates that the Adaptation Fund shall serve the Paris Agreement. During the session, the group actively participated in the discussions promoted by the co-facilitator's on the mandate given by CMA1 regarding governance and institutional arrangements, safeguards and operating modalities of the Adaptation Fund to serve the Paris Agreement. We provided concrete ideas regarding the possible elements to be included under these titles, as well as the options of governance and legal questions regarding the implications of these aspects. These points have been collected in the informal note of co-facilitators. Notwithstanding, the Group highlights that the Adaptation Fund's decision to serve the Paris Agreement should address procedural matters as well as reflect the high relevance of the matter which calls for a prompt response. The Group is expecting concrete actions in that direction during the COP 23. In this vein, access of developing country Parties to means of implementation including finance, technology transfer and capacity building should always be guaranteed in order to meet their reporting obligation and implement their climate action plans.

7. On Response Measures, the Group reaffirms the importance of giving full consideration to identify the necessary actions to meet the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties arising from the impact of the implementation of response measures and avoid its negative economic and social consequences, including with regard to equitable access to sustainable development and poverty eradication. The group welcomes the findings of the first meeting of the TEC, which would help to enhance the work of the Forum. In this regard, we look forward to enhanced actions through strengthening institutional arrangements and the establishment of a cooperative mechanism to address the adverse impacts of the implementation of response measures on developing countries. Moreover, following decision 11/CP.21 it is important to move towards the implementation of an enhanced forum and technical group of experts to allow for an institutional arrangement post 2020 in the context of the Paris Agreement.

8. The Group recognizes the continuation of the discussions on the possible additional matters, in particular on financial support by developed country Parties under Agenda Item 8. In this regard, the APA should take finance as a significant issue in the November session.

9. The work under SBI, SBSTA, and other bodies under the UNFCCC, and its Kyoto Protocol has a direct impact for both the post-2020 implementation and the enhancement of the pre 2020 action, and in that regard, we would like reemphasize the urgent need to enhance pre-2020 action and support, as a solid foundation for post-2020 implementation. On the path to COP23, we look forward to a constructive engagement in adequately addressed in the upcoming sessions the need to enhance the provision of financial resources, including for technology development and transfer, and capacity building support for pre 2020 action. We need to send a signal that we are committed with pre 2020, otherwise we fear that if we donīt address this, the gap may widen.

The Group of 77 and China will continue to engage actively and constructively in the upcoming months and at the resumed APA session in November.

Thank you.