Climate Action Network Urges Bridging Information And Technological Gap

Doha, December 03 (QNA) -Climate Action Network called on Tuesday for practical and urgent steps to bridge the information and technological gap between the industrial countries and third world states as well as the least developed countries in order to encounter the impact of climate change and natural disasters threatening the earth. The network also called for an agreement extending the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol in order to mitigate the negative impact of the gap, and for raising the ceiling of the commitments of the EU and the US in order to reduce the emission of gases which cause a rise in the earth's temperature. At a session held on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change COP18, participants asked whether the US President Barack Obama will take bold steps necessary to alleviate the impact of climate change and whether the EU will raise its current emissions ceiling. They also underlined the need of financing to help developing countries cope with climate change and of creating a mechanism for damage compensation. Some participants said the issue of financing and damage compensation must be included in a long-term plan for the members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Severe Climate weather conditions and the end of early financing period this month should push participants here to work diligently and ambitiously to increase financing for encountering climate change, participants said. In Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries promised to provide US$ 30 billion for the period 2010-2012, and to mobilize long-term finance of a further US$100 billion a year by 2020 from a variety of sources. Climate Action Network, a coalition of non-governmental and civil society organizations representing millions of those affected by climate change, addressed an open letter to the ministers participating in the conference themed "A New Framework For Remedying Losses And Damage Resulting From Climate Change". The letter included an appeal to the ministers to take practical steps in Doha to implement commitments for mitigating impact of gas emissions and stepping up cooperation among concerned organs. Some 40 non-governmental organizations signed the letter. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO developing countries need $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion annually for climate change between 2010 and 2050 whereas the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change expects additional investments and financial flows needed by developing countries to mitigate impact of climate change to be at $14 billion in 2030. Climate Action Network groups more than 700 non-governmental organizations in more than 90 countries and is working to develop governmental and social activities to alleviate climate change impact and to keep it at sustainable levels. For this purpose , the network is exchanging information and streamlining strategies with non-governmental organizations worldwide. (QNA)