Optimism Leads COP 18 Talks Despite Concerns

Doha, November 27 (QNA) - Despite the increasing climate change dangers as a result of the rising amounts of emissions causing the greenhouse effect as well as the confusion regarding the great challenges facing the global environment, participants at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP18) and the 8th meeting of the Kyoto Protocol Parties (CMP 8) hosted by Qatar from November 26 to December 27, expressed optimism towards a plan limiting the effects of this phenomenon. In this context, they stressed the importance of partnerships between the government and governmental organizations within the principles and goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. They expressed total confidence over the success of the COP 18 in formulating a comprehensive agreement to be approved in 2015, in addition to setting a 2nd period of commitment for the Kyoto Protocol. In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) Tuesday on the sidelines of the COP 18, Al Sadek Awad Bashir from the Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC), who is also a member of BirdLife International, said that Qatar s hosting of this Conference is a big achievement and important contribution in facing the harmful effects of climate change and avoiding consequent crises. BirdLife International is a Partnership of 117 national conservation organizations and the world leader in bird conservation. The "Kyoto II" is expected to be signed during the COP 18, Bashir said, adding that all of the issues discussed during the 2012 Durbin Climate Conference will be finalized. He expressed hopes that industrial nations would assume their responsibilities so developing countries would not pay the price, highlighting the role governmental organizations play in pressuring these nations into signing the Protocol. For his part, International Centre for Climate Change and Development Director Saleemul Huq pointed out the strong relationship between climate change issues, the food crisis, water and energy scarcity, and international health issues. He stressed the importance of partnerships between governments and civil society groups in response to these important challenges. Emily Massawa, the Tanzanian delegate and 14th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) Head highlighted the State of Qatar s efforts in fighting the challenges resulting from climate change, which makes it hold a pioneering position in this field on the level of the Middle East. "Desertification is considered one of the most dangerous problems threatening animal and plant life at the African continent in specific, she said and expressed confidence over the success of the Doha talks in limiting Greenhouse gases. In this context, the Tanzanian official affirmed the African woman s role in climate change, explaining that climate change is not only an environmental issue, but also a social and economic one. Meanwhile an Oxfam (British non-governmental organization) spokesperson warned that within a month, the emergency aid grace period will end and the Green Box is still empty. In a recent UN study, experts forecasted that the world will witness a rise in temperatures due to increased emissions which causes more floods, droughts, heat waves, and rising sea levels. (QNA)