Costa Rican Environment Minister Hails Qatar's Hosting COP18

Doha, December 05 (QNA) - Costa Rican Minister for Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, Rene Castro on Wednesday hailed Qatar s efforts hosting the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18). Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) today during the launch of a "Costa Rican Carbon Neutral Coffee", Castro highlighted the importance of holding this conference in Doha expressing hopes that Kyoto protocol would hold clear commitments in terms of extending it for a second 5 to 8 year period. He emphasized the crucial role and outcomes of group work on Climate Change issues. "We need to clarify the aspects that pull us together, as the will to work for the world, and not the aspects that pull us apart," Castro said. "I think we have here good working environment," he added. Moreover, he expressed optimism on the results the climate talks will be arriving to in the next few days. "Sometimes achievements come in the very last minute," he said. "there could be final resolute negotiations," Castro added. Talking of the environment friendly Coffee, Castro explained that this kind of Coffee is certified as CO2 neutral as it consumes less water and electricity in production process thus contributes to cutting carbon emissions. "This coffee reduces 80% of the water consumed in the cultivation process 50% of the electricity for manufacturing as well as Re-uses all the waste generated of Bio Gas," he clarified. He recommended everyone in coffee industry in Costa Rica to adopt this method to help cut carbon footprint of coffee production not only in Costa Rica but also across the globe. "We decided to bring this coffee to show that we can do climate change mitigation in agriculture, which is currently at the heart of the climate discussion," the Costa Rican minister said. "We brought 5000 pounds of this coffee here to deliver our message that CO2 reduction is possible in agriculture sector," he said. (QNA)