Mr. Co-Chairs,

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

2. This being the first meeting of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, it is my welcome duty to express here the appreciation of the Group on the sterling leadership with which you Co- Chairs conducted our affairs last year. The Group appreciated the skillful manner in which you steered our discussions. We have become accustomed to your Leaderships.

3. The Group looks forward once again to working with you this year; I assure you that you can again count on the support of the Group of 77 and China in 2013.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

4. In Doha we decided that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) will consider elements for a draft negotiating text no later than at its session to be held in conjunction with the twentieth session of the Conference of the Parties, due to be held from Wednesday, 3 December to Sunday, 14 December 2014, with a view to making available a negotiating text before May 2015.

5. Also in Doha, we decided to identify and to explore in 2013 options for a range of actions that can close the pre-2020 ambition gap with a view to identifying further activities for its plan of work in 2014 ensuring the highest possible mitigation efforts under the Convention.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

6. The Group acknowledges with appreciation the work and the thinking that are reflected in the Informal Note which you have kindly circulated prior to this meeting. We have taken due note of your suggested goals for the session, we appreciate the sharing of your ideas and proposals on how the work of the ADP2 is to be organised and we are currently reflecting on the sets of questions which you've posed for our discussion.

7. May I convey that the Group concurs that this April Session should be utilised to build on the broad, conceptual and scoping discussions carried out last year and to that end will support efforts by parties to engage in more specific and detailed work on the core elements of the 2015 agreement and a practical and result- orientated approach to increasing pre- 2020 ambition.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

8. The Group takes note of the proposal by the two Co-Chairs to establish the contact group at this session of the ADP.
- The Group supports in principle the establishment of the contact group under the two Co-Chairs to facilitate work and focus.
- The contact group would convene when necessary with the agreement of the parties.

Mr. Co-Chairs,

9. Let me now make some substantive remarks on the ADP. For the Group of 77 and China, the following are very clear in our mind:

i. The work under the Ad-hoc Working Group must be under the Convention and should be based on its principles. and provisions related to commitments and responsibilities with regard to mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation;
ii. The process under the ADP must not lead to a reinterpretation or a rewriting of the Convention;
iii. The outcome of the ADP must be in accordance with the objective, principles and provisions stipulated in the Convention, including the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities;
iv. The negotiations under the ADP must be a party driven process, and must be fully inclusive and transparent;
v. The work in this Ad-hoc Working Group should lead to a balanced, ambitious, fair and equitable outcome under the Convention; and
vi. Progress depends on following a balanced approach that will include mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation, in accordance with the spirit of the Convention.

10. In addition, the Group of 77 and China applauds the amendments adopted in Doha in relation to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Our efforts should now be focused on bringing those amendments into effect at the earliest opportunity. We therefore urge all Parties to undertake the relevant legal procedures necessary to bring the amendments into force as soon as possible.

11. The Group is also of the view that the outcome of our work under the Durban Platform must enable us to further enhance the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention. Indeed, it should strengthen the multilateral rule-based regime in order for the Convention to achieve its ultimate objective.

12. Finally, we consider that any action to increase pre- 2020 ambition should be guided by the objectives and principles of the Convention. Given the urgency of our situation, the Group wishes to highlight the need to increase and expedite efforts to close the ambition gap. In addressing this gap, focus must not only be limited to mitigation but also address gaps relating to finance, technology and support for capacity building. Failure to address these gaps will not only have impact in the short term but will also have profound impact on the scale of commitment that would be required under the 2015 agreement, which should be guided by the principles and provisions of the Convention. In this connection, the Group reiterates its call for developed countries to take leadership and do more in the provision of the means of implementation.

Thank you.