Twelfth Session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 12) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY H.E. AMBASSADOR ABDULLA MOHAMMED ALSAIDI, HEAD OF DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN, AT THE OPENING PLENARY OF THE TWELFTH SESSION OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON FURTHER COMMITMENTS UNDER THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (AWG-KP 12) UNDER THE UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (Bonn, Germany, 1 June 2010)

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Let me, at the outset, take this opportunity to thank the Republic of Germany for hosting this important meeting.

The Group of 77 reiterates its serious concern with respect to the extremely slow progress of the AWG-KP in completing the milestones of its work programme. The primary objective of this session is to adopt conclusions on the scale of emissions reduction for Annex I Parties individually and in aggregate jointly, and this should be our focus.

The Group is also deeply concerned about the lack of progress in translating the general discussions in clarifying and broadening understanding of proposals into a negotiation on the actual quantified emission reduction targets for Annex I Parties in the second and subsequent commitment periods. Furthermore, substantive discussions on scale of emission reductions in aggregate as well as individual or joint contributions of Annex I Parties must be concluded to overcome the wide gap between the pledges put forward by Annex I Parties and what is required by science, equity and historical responsibility.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group considers the continuity of the Kyoto Protocol an essential element for the future of the climate change regime. The definition of new quantified emission reduction commitments for Annex I parties under the KP is a legal obligation that must be met and is a cornerstone of the Cancún outcome as a whole.

We are pleased that at this session the focus of our work will be on the numbers, as it is vital that we progress as quickly as possible to quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for Annex I Parties. Failure to do so sends a negative signal regarding the ambition of Annex I parties and their contribution to a strong climate change regime.

As we seek, therefore, to address the global challenge of climate change, the insufficient level of ambition expressed in the current mitigation pledges of Annex I parties is an obstacle we must overcome.

Finally, Mr. Chairman,

The Group would continue to support you and is committed to constructive and transparent negotiation in this session in order to ensure that the AWG-KP delivers the results of its work pursuant to decision 1/CMP.1 for adoption by the CMP at its sixth session.

I thank you.