Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Allow me at the outset to express my deep appreciation to the Government and people of Thailand for hosting this important meeting in the beautiful city of Bangkok. We thank the Secretariat for their excellent work regarding the arrangements for this meeting.

I cannot go on before expressing the deeply felt solidarity of the Group with the Thai people that are suffering the consequences of the recent floods. Let me also express our solidarity with the people of Japan that is suffering a tragedy of incommensurable dimensions. Our sympathy for the loss of life and devastation. We remain certain that the determination of the Japanese people will allow them to recover.

We would like to express our condolences for the loss of life suffered at the United Nations Headquarter in Afghanistan.

I would also like to express to you, Mr. Chair, our full support and collaboration. The Group of 77 and China, with one hundred and thirty one countries and being the largest grouping in the UN system, represents the voice of developing countries and we commit to use that voice so as to help move this process forward in a constructive and proactive manner.

Mr. Chairman,

At the time our negotiations on the issues under the AWG-KP resume this year, developing countries are experiencing more and more the impacts of the adverse effects of climate change. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing, while, at the same time, the ability of developing countries to cope with these adverse effects is diminishing under the economic and financial crises.

We would like to recall that, over five years ago, negotiations for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol were launched, triggered by article 3.9. The Group is deeply concerned that the AWG-KP has not been able to deliver on its mandate yet.

We expect a high level of ambition from developed countries which means defining ambitious quantified emission reductions in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that will provide for deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions that are required according to science, including as documented in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Annex 1 Parties must urgently raise the level of ambition in their pledges. There is also a need to finalize other outstanding issues such as the LULUCF accounting rules, the flexibility mechanisms, the basket of issues, and the potential consequences.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group is strongly concerned on the attempts to erode the relevance that the Kyoto Protocol has as a key cornerstone of the multilateral climate change regime.

In this sense, we recall and reiterate that the negotiations under AWG-KP must abide by its mandate, which stems from the amendment established on art 3.9, in order to avoid any gap between the 1st and the 2nd commitment periods. In Cancun, last December, we decided to ensure that this gap would not exist. Such a gap would cause adverse impacts to developing countries, create several practical and legal problems and places us on very a dangerous path that surpasses the tipping points.

For the G77 and China, there is a key option for Durban under the AWG-KP: the adoption of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. A second commitment period is the key cornerstone outcome for success in Durban, and it is not only a political imperative but a legal obligation that must be met.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to reiterate that the G77 and China is willing to participate in the process along this year, in a constructive and proactive manner in order to reach in Durban a balanced and agreed outcome. While we move towards Durban, the pathway must ensure an open, Party- driven transparent and inclusive multilateral process that would lead us to consensus. In this regard, the Group reaffirms that negotiations are to be led in an equal and fair manner.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to conclude by emphasizing that developing countries are the most affected and at the same time the ones that have contributed less to the creation of the climate change problem and the situation we currently face.

Therefore, historic responsibilities cannot be disregarded. A second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol it is not only a political imperative but a legal obligation that must be met. Our time is running out.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.