CLIMATE CHANGE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE ATTESTS TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000648 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SENV KGHG UNGA SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE ATTESTS TO MOMENTUM FOR ACTION REF: USUN NEW YORK 302 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Nearly 100 member states delivered remarks during the July 31-August 2 informal thematic debate of the General Assembly on climate change. The theme of "common but differentiated responsibilities" ran through the speeches with developed countries pledging continued reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while developing countries asked for assistance (financial and technological) to aid in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. Though statements contained few surprises, the high turnout during the event gave strong evidence that momentum for action on climate change is building rapidly in the United Nations. End Summary -------------- SECRETARY-GENERAL, GA PRESIDENT, UNFCCC SPEAK SIPDIS -------------- ¶2. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the outset of the informal thematic debate of the General Assembly, "Climate change as a global challenge," saying that by the end of this year he wants negotiations to commence on a post-2012 agreement that incorporates climate control, sustainable development and poverty reduction, which should be completed by 2009 to avoid a gap between the first and second commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol. Ban also vowed to make the UN itself climate neutral under the "Greening the UN" initiative (details of which will be presented at a future date). ¶3. The opening remarks of the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed al Khalifa, raised the oft-referenced Rio Principle 7 on "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" for addressing adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development. All countries must adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change while also reducing GHG emissions (mitigation),though climate actions should not harm economic growth and development. Khalifa was the first of many speakers to underscore that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the appropriate forum to negotiate a global deal beyond the Kyoto Protocol that is equitable, fair, and ambitious. ¶4. In his remarks as part of an expert panel, UNFCCC Executive Director Yvo de Boer described his vision for the next framework agreement. He called for a climate change regime where industrialized countries take the lead through national action to further reduce emissions, developing countries limit emission growth into the future, and concerns over economic competitiveness and additional costs of adaptation are taken into account. -------------- DEVELOPED STATES VIEWS -------------- ¶5. In their statements, many developed countries fully accepted their historical responsibility for GHG emissions leading to climate change and pledged domestic mitigation programs and aid to developing countries for both adaptation and mitigation. EU members referred repeatedly to their commitment to achieve a 20 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Illustrating that aggressive mitigation efforts are compatible with vibrant economies, Denmark boasted that over the past 12 years its economy grew by 30 percent while gross energy consumption remained stable and carbon dioxide emissions actually reduced by 13 to 14 percent. Denmark focused on increasing its renewable energy supply. The Netherlands devoted its statement to describing regulatory policies that induce the private sector to invest massively in research and development to spur innovation in environmentally friendly technologies. Considerable attention was given to the U.S. statement and its delivery by Ambassador Khalilzad (text available at www.un.int/usa),while Russia simply repeated its brief statement from the April climate debate in the UN Security Council. -------------- DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' NUANCES -------------- ¶6. Developing countries' statements had common themes including the importance of "common but differentiated responsibilities," the historical responsibility of the USUN NEW Y 00000648 002 OF 002 developed nations, the need for financial assistance, technology transfers, and capacity building for mitigation and adaptation, and the need for early warning systems for natural disasters and reducing vulnerability to them. Developing countries were split, however, among those that sought to avoid any mitigation responsibilities and those willing to take action if given the proper incentives and support. ¶7. Warning Flags: Both China and India stated that developing nations should be exempt from controlling their emissions. "Environmental concerns," said India, "should not become additional conditionalities on growth in developing countries." India rather defiantly suggested using equality in the per capita share of GHG emissions as a fair distribution model. To improve living standards and continue being the "world's" manufacturer, China gave notice that "development emissions may inevitably increase." ¶8. Small Island states fearing climate change as an existential threat, and developing countries with potentially lucrative large carbon sinks such as rain forests, took a far more flexible view toward mitigation obligations. Such countries, like Brazil and Indonesia, said the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" does not exempt any party of its role in combating climate change. Developing countries should, however, be given incentives to take mitigation action, such as financial assistance, capacity building and technology transfer. Even without such assistance, several nations have already taken some action, such as to combat deforestation and desertification. Island states such as the Maldives asked when rhetoric on mitigation would be matched by deeds. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. Even without the high rhetoric, the sheer number of national statements, the debate's length (an extra day was added to allow all statements to be heard) and media attention all showed clear evidence that momentum on addressing climate change is building rapidly within the UN system. Guest panelists, UN officials and national delegates alike remarked on the marked difference even since the April climate change debate in the Security Council. This wave of momentum, however, also put in clear relief China's caution and India's truculence toward suggestions that the developing states will have to join developed economies in reducing GHG emissions. KHALILZAD