G77 Chair Fiji Hits Out

Fiji, as chair of the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) negotiating bloc, has hit out at developed countries for backtracking on their climate change commitments and reminded them to show leadership at COP19 climate talks here in Warsaw.

Speaking at the High Level Segment of COP19 on behalf of the G77 + China Fiji’s Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni told the plenary of Ministers…

“After one week of intense negotiations, our technical people have advised that things are not looking promising in Warsaw. This is a source of major concern within our Group. We urge Developed Country Parties, to show leadership. This process is at a critical juncture where leadership is desperately desired. The Convention clearly stipulates where leadership lies”

“It is highly disappointing and indeed regrettably inadequate, that at a juncture such as this, when we are so full of enthusiasm and determination to discuss, analyze, assess and determine for ourselves, an instrument that will guide our behavior and regulate our affairs for the benefit of this and the future generations, in as far as the climate regime is concerned, that we are now witnessing retractions by some parties from their obligation and from their leadership role, in these processes.

Last week, instead of increasing its emission reduction target or at the very least remain at current level, a prominent Annex 1 Party announced its intention to substantially deviate from its promised target to a level much less compatible with previously stated pledge.

“In a more recent forum, Australia and Canada clearly demonstrated their unwillingness to show increased ambition by reserving their position on Green Climate Fund (GCF), thus, conclusively confirming their unwillingness to move forward in these endeavor. Last week, instead of increasing its emission reduction target or at the very least remain at current level, a prominent Annex 1 Party announced its intention to substantially deviate from its promised target to a level much less compatible with previously stated pledge. [...] Clarity on finance, including for the transfer of technology, and capacity-building, which is the basic foundation of any ambitious action on climate change is essential if Warsaw is to be a success”, said Dr Luveni.

Dr Luveni strongly articulated retractions by developed country partners.

The Group of 77 and China had earlier articulated its priorities for COP19. Despite one week of negotiations, there continues to remain a serious lack of clarity on the predictable scale up of the provision of finance up to USD $100 billion per year by 2020. Three years after its launching in Durban, the Green Climate Fund remains an empty shell. It is absolutely necessary that we see a rapid and substantial initial capitalization and an ambitious resource mobilization for the GCF for 2014.

The statement reflects the united positions of G77 + China, a group of 134 developing countries, which is essentially 70% of the signatories (or parties) to the UNFCCC. Parties in the G77 + China group have commended Fiji in keeping the largest negotiation bloc at UNFCCC united during the COP19 climate negotiation.

It was only encouraging to hear the reference to “present and future generations”. Fiji is one of the few countries that actively includes youth in their official delegations at these climate negotiations.