Participants in COP 18 Optimistic that Global Agreement will be Reached

Doha, December 06 (QNA) - Heads and members of delegations participating in the United Nations 18th Conference on Climate Change (COP 18) , currently under way in Doha, were optimistic that participants taking part in the high-level meetings, which started on Tuesday, would reach a global agreement on climate change, noting that negotiations are still facing such issues as financial assistance to the countries of the South and the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol. The participants expressed confidence that the presidency of Qatar would help in reaching a constructive outcome on ways to finance developing countries and assist them to adopt new environment-friendly energy sources, adhere to the reduction of carbon emissions and develop a plan of action for the coming years, as well as the right of the rich countries to use what is known as emissions licenses as part of commitments undertaken in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, Policy Director for Climate Change of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Norway and member of its negotiating team in Doha talks George Borsting, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the conference that the high-level meetings are currently discussing the political aspects of drafts recommendations in order to reach an agreement by the end of this week. The Norwegian official praised the presidency of Qatar and its management of the Conference , expressing deep confidence in Qatar's supervision of the talks. On bilateral cooperation between Norway and Qatar with regard to climate change, Borsting referred to the achievement of Messaieed forest project, which aims to change part of the city's desert into green spaces to become a centre for the production of food, fresh water and salt depending on innovative green technologies such as the use of sea water, greenhouses and concentrated solar power. He added that the project, which cost reaches about USD 5.3 million, aims to test the ability to transform the arid desert into a green fertile, nutritious and productive land by employing modern technology developed by the Norwegian company (SFP) since 2008. The idea of implementing the project in Qatar came to being after the singing of a relevant agreement in February 2012, Borsting said. (QNA)