MALAWI ASSOCIATES WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD, DISCUSSES CLIMATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000126 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG MI SUBJECT: MALAWI ASSOCIATES WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD, DISCUSSES CLIMATE CHANGE PRIORITIES REF: 10 STATE 3079 Summary ¶1. Malawi has formally associated with the Copenhagen Accord, while at the same time raising several issues it would like to see addressed before the next Conference of the Parties in Mexico (COP 16). These issues include the target limit for global temperature increase, reporting requirements,funding, and timelines for the establishment of international structures. As newly elected AU Chairman, President Mutharika can be expected to play a prominent role within Africa on climate issues, although he will likely defer to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles in global negotiations. Malawi recognizes the importance of climate change and environmental management, which are addressed as priority issues in its principle development planning strategy. End summary. Malawi Associates with the Copenhagen Accord ¶2. Post delivered reftel demarche by letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs Etta Banda and to to the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment. On February 11, Emboffs met with Ministry of Development Planning and Cooperation (DPC) Principal Secretary Ted Sitima-Wina, who told us that Malawi had formally associated with the Copenhagen Accord on January 27. ¶3. In its notification to the UNFCCC Secretariat, Malawi noted the following four issues that it desired to have resolved before COP 16: ¶A. Where the Copenhagen Accord in paragraphs 1 and 2 calls for limiting the global rise in temperature to "below 2 degrees Celsius," Malawi maintains that the limit should be held to 1.5 degrees Celsius. ¶B. Regarding paragraph 5 on Reporting of Mitigation Actions, Malawi believes that 2 years is not practically feasible for developing countries to submit mitigation actions. Malawi also requests that Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) be required or reported in National Communications and not in a registry. ¶C. Regarding paragraphs 7 and 8 on funding, Malawi believes that public financing should be the major source of funding, with the private sector and markets providing supplementary support. Malawi states that based on current scientific estimates, USD 100 billion is not adequate for climate change actions. Malawi calls for future financing to be massively scaled up to an equivalent of 1.5% of GDP of developed country parties, in addition to the existing Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) target. Malawi asks for agreement that this commitment by developed country Parties should be both individual and collective. ¶D. Regarding paragraphs 9 and 10 on High Level Panel and the Green Climate Fund, Malawi asks that a timeline for the establishment of the panel be put in place before COP 16. Malawi also asks that the institutional arrangements for the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund be specified before COP 16. ¶4. Malawi's notification concluded that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and Malawi calls upon the COP to translate the Accord into legally binding decisions. Malawi and Climate Change in the African Union ¶5. With President Mutharika's recent election as Chairman of the African Union, Sitima-Wina said that he expected Mutharika to play a leading role within the organization on climate change, while acknowledging that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia will continue to lead the continent's participation in international negotiations. LILONGWE 00000126 002 OF 002 Climate Change and Domestic Development ¶6. Sitima-Wina told us that in order to address the cross-cutting issues of climate change, the GOM has established an inter-ministerial task force, chaired and coordinated by the DPC. He noted that climate change is of great importance to Malawi, and that Environmental Management is identified in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy as a key priority. The GOM currently has two projects underway supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Poverty and Environmental Initiative, involving several government ministries, will design environmentally sustainable development programs. The National Program on Climate Change will provide scientific studies that can form the basis for designing specific interventions. Sitima-Wina confided however that climate change considerations were not yet being routinely integrated into development planning. Comment ¶7. With a predominantly agricultural economy, and an overwhelmingly rural, high density population, Malawi could be significantly impacted by climate change. The Mutharika administration is acutely aware of the close linkage between climate change and food security. Nevertheless, while the GOM will remain engaged on these issues, capacity constraints will limit the government's ability to follow through on initiatives and opportunities. BODDE