COP 18 Presidents Announces Doha Agreement on Climate

Doha, December 8 (QNA) - The President of the 18th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 18) HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, has announced that the Conference achieved the Doha agreement on climate in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. "The participants good intentions and hard work have enabled us to reach the goals of the Conference proceeding and finding a way towards the future, HE Al-Attiyah said in a plenary session held here Saturday evening. The Conference has ratified all decisions presented in available documents, he noted . These decisions will form the Doha Climate Gateway, HE Al-Attiyah added. Then the President of COP18 gave the floor to the representative of the US who thanked the State of Qatar for hosting the conference. The representative said that the conference was key because it came at the end of the first commitment period of Kyoto. He said that the conference achieved all its goals because it pursued the achievements made in the Bali and Durban conferences. He praised the agreements made on financing the Green Climate Fund, and on establishing a financing committee and another committee for financing and technological support among other achievements. The representative of the US also had a number of observations on some of the articles in the agreements. Speaking at the Conference, Russia's delegate expressed his dissatisfaction and incomprehension of the documents adopted by the Gateway. He indicated that Belarus, Ukraine and his country, which he is all representing at the Conference, have attempted to present some notes on the documents in accordance with the 34th clause of the internal system. The package has been passed despite their efforts in clarifying their willingness to discuss procedural aspects, the delegate posited. HE the COP 18 President commented on the Russian delegate's notes indicating his total recognition of the important statement presented by the Russian Federation, adding that it would be reflected in the session report in addition to their suggestion. HE also expressed his appreciation of the strong relations between the State of Qatar and the Russian Federation, and even with Belarus and Ukraine, adding that their contribution towards cutting greenhouse emissions commands respect. HE Al Attiyah reiterated that the decree adopted Saturday reflects parties' readiness towards a fruitful conclusion to the Doha conference. Meanwhile, European Union representative described what the Doha climate talks arrived to as "modest" yet a vital step on the progress path. She noted that the Doha Climate Gateway came after long hours of debate among professional teams in order to achieve some progress regarding the Durban platform and to attain aspirations to cut emissions before year 2020. The representative appreciated the ministers' exchange of point of views and what they suggested to achieve the overall outcomes. Regarding the long-term collaboration work and financing-related issues she pointed out that many European countries feel proud of the financial pledges they offered despite the financial crises they are going through. She said there has been progress on the issue of the damages and losses that some countries faced due to the emissions expressing hopes that faster paces would come regarding these issues. For its part, China welcomed Algeria s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and itself, and presented its appreciation of the State of Qatar's hosting of the UN COP 18 Conference. In its speech on behalf of Brazil, India and South Africa; China indicated its support for the decrees and agreements reached at the COP 18 and adopted by the Conference. While China expressed its disappointment with some of the procedures followed by the climate change system in general as well as some of the decisions taken during the Conference in general, it has expressed its admiration towards what has been achieved in Doha; China saw that the Conference asserted the Group s development and advancement in regards to means of negotiation. In its speech, Australia welcomed the decision to commit to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which begins at the start of next year, pointing out the surplus of Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) which will be moved to the second period, adding that unlimited usage could threaten some activities post 2020. All parties should ensure full integration into the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, Australia said, achieving goals through restricting demand over a second commitment for AAUs in accordance with national specifications. Australia affirmed ownership of AAUs transferred from the first commitment period, adding its support for preparations in other countries regarding moving them in order to link other emission systems. Additionally, during its speech Australia called for the importance of understanding the existence of other parties willing to make a statement on transferring AAUs, and that the Conference Presidency recognizes this need by giving them a voice while acknowledging their data in the session records; namely the EU, Japan, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland. The Group of 77 and China expressed appreciation to all the efforts the state of Qatar has exerted to reach fair results on the COP18/CMP8 confirming that the Doha agreement could be a turning point in the implementation of the post -2020 agreements. Representing the G77 and China, Algeria noted that the developing countries were coming to Doha with high hopes on reaching further progress on what they agreed on regarding the Durban Platform. Algeria added that the G77 and China has been unique since the very beginning showing flexibility and high levels of responsibility during the Doha Climate Talks. Algeria thanked all who stood for the G77 and China during the talks. The G77 and China delegate said the developed countries requests were mentioned during the Doha Talks, only a strong commitment to Kyoto Protocol needs to be activated as well as providing developing countries with the needed financial support. Concluding, the G77 and China thanked the government and the people of Qatar for the well management of the COP18. The Swaziland delegate spoke on behalf of the African Group, thanking the State of Qatar for the appreciated efforts and notable preparations it undertook organizing the Conference. He praised the efforts of the COP 18 President and his broad experience for this scientific happening. The delegate explained the historic context of the Kyoto Protocol and the importance of committing to its clauses in regards to cutting emissions within the Protocol s legal framework, pointing out the evaluations released by experts on climate change as well as gathering support in face of the challenge; keeping planet earth alive. He warned against failure to keep temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius, which would have negative effects on human lives. The delegate showcased the success achieved by African countries confronting climate change including a rise in living standards, while economic and social developments indicate healthy progress in that direction, as well as efforts to lower poverty rates and ensure access of vital services for citizens of the African continent. Africa is a continent with no major shares of emissions, but unfortunately it bears the larger part of the burden of its consequences, he said. He indicated that the aim of the Doha visit were better conditions for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, as future generations will judge us on the accuracy of our decisions. The delegate welcomed the modifications to the Protocol and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA). For his part, the Gambia delegate spoke on behalf of developing countries, as he pointed out decisions, especially those on funding operations. He expressed hopes that developed countries implement agreements on the matter and welcomed modifications by attendees to the Kyoto Protocol. For his part, the Saudi representative said that COP18 adopted one of the biggest agreements on climate change in 15 years, since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. He said it was an honor that such agreements were signed in a GCC country, adding that the Doha Climate Gateway was the result of five years of negotiations. He expressed his belief that the hosting of the conference in Qatar helped create a sense of keenness to reach an agreement. The Saudi representative also expressed his thanks to the government and people of the State of Qatar for the hospitality and hosting of the delegations and for the excellent services provided during the conference. He also praised the role played by HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah in his capacity as President of COP18. Meanwhile, Brazil's representative described the moment of reaching a second commitment of Kyoto Protocol as "historic". She reiterated her country's full support to the COP18, and especially to the long term collaboration and teams' commitment to Durban Platform. Brazil's representative said they were looking forward to seeing further outcomes of the talks, however she said the Kyoto Protocol was the main purpose they came for to the Doha climate talks and what they reached on it is deemed a success for the COP18. Stressing the international collaboration, she said the attendees came to Doha to reach crucial outcomes that would reinforce global efforts to defeat climate change. The representative noted that Brazil has been doing its best to confront climate change effects and been committed to its vows in this regard. Meanwhile, Brazil's representative described the moment of reaching a second commitment of Kyoto Protocol as "historic". She reiterated her country's full support to the COP18, and especially to the long term collaboration and teams' commitment to Durban Platform. Brazil's representative said they were looking forward to seeing further outcomes of the talks, however she said the Kyoto Protocol was the main purpose they came for to the Doha climate talks and what they reached on it is deemed a success for the COP18. Stressing the international collaboration, she said the attendees came to Doha to reach crucial outcomes that would reinforce global efforts to defeat climate change. The representative noted that Brazil has been doing its best to confront climate change effects and been committed to its vows in this regard. Head of Egypt's delegation to the Conference, in a speech on behalf of the Arab Group, reaffirmed the Group's consent to the decisions taken by the climate change conference, saying the decisions reflected the current position of political will and international consensus. He said that the Arab Group, like other parties, hoped to see the Conference achieving more ambitious results in a number of topics under discussion. "But the Group's feeling of a sense of responsibility in this historic moment pushed it to announce that they are consistent with these decisions," he said, adding that all parties will count on these decisions to reach the full and sustained implementation of the Convention. During the conference, the Arab Group, he said, showed a lot of flexibility and openness in dealing with all proposals submitted, asserting that the Group will continue this constructive engagement in the next phase of the international negotiations and will cooperate with all other parties to build a safer future for all. The Doha conference, he added, offered a gateway between two historic periods. "Our efforts in the Conference focused on reaching a successful completion of the negotiations coupled with ambitious and meaningful outcomes with respect to the legal aspect of the second period commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, the ambitious emission reduction figures and the rules to preserve the environmental integrity." "So we worked to achieve ambitious outcomes to culminate efforts spared since 2007 within the framework of the working group on long-term cooperative action in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer, capacity-building and response measures," he added. "In Doha, we sought to activate real mechanisms developed in Cancun and Durban, he said. Concluding, he expressed his appreciation of the presidency of the State of Qatar to the Conference, which he termed as a success, asserting that "the Doha Climate Gateway" was an important step in multilateral action. (END)