Fiji, as chair of the Group of 77 and China negotiating bloc, has hit out at developed countries for backtracking on their climate change commitments and reminded them to show leadership, as stipulated under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The statement was delivered at the start of the UNFCCC High Level segment in Warsaw, Poland by the Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni, on behalf of the Group.
Dr Luveni is currently in Warsaw leading a strong 16-member Fiji delegation.
“After one week of intense negotiations, our technical people have advised that things are not looking promising in Warsaw. This is a source of major concern within our Group. We urge Developed Country Parties, to show leadership. This process is at a critical juncture where leadership is desperately desired. The Convention clearly stipulates where leadership lies,” said Dr Luveni.
“It is highly disappointing and indeed regrettably inadequate, that at a juncture such as this, when we are so full of enthusiasm and determination to discuss, analyze, assess and determine for ourselves, an instrument that will guide our behavior and regulate our affairs for the benefit of this and the future generations, in as far as the climate regime is concerned, that we are now witnessing retractions by some parties from their obligation and from their leadership role, in these processes,” she added.
Dr Luveni did not mince her words when she articulated retractions by developed country partners.
“Last week, instead of increasing its emission reduction target or at the very least remain at current level, a prominent Annex 1 Party announced its intention to substantially deviate from its promised target to a level much less compatible with previously stated pledge,” said Dr Luveni.
“In a more recent forum, Australia and Canada clearly demonstrated their unwillingness to show increased ambition by reserving their position on Green Climate Fund, thus, conclusively confirming their unwillingness to move forward in these endeavor.
“The Group of 77 and China has earlier articulated its priorities for COP19 at the opening of this session. Despite one week of negotiations, there continues to remain a serious lack of clarity on the predictable scale up of the provision of finance up to 100 billion USD per year by 2020. Three years after its launching in Durban, the Green Climate Fund, as I speak, remains an empty shell. It is absolutely necessary that we see a rapid and substantial initial capitalization and an ambitious resource mobilization for the GCF for 2014,” Dr Luveni said.
“Clarity on finance, including for the transfer of technology, and capacity-building, which is the basic foundation of any ambitious action on climate change is essential if Warsaw is to be a success.”
Dr Luveni, earlier in the day, also welcomed the UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon into a coordination plenary meeting of G77 and China.
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