South African Government (Pretoria)
11 December 2011
press release
Durban — Delegates
I would like to welcome you to an informal joint meeting of the COP and CMP.
Colleagues,
As Presidency, South Africa has been transparent; we offered you conducive facilities for productive discussions. You have arrived at a package of documents based on your discussions. Today, I have held consultations throughout the day on this package through a transparent and inclusive process.
Here in Durban late in the night, we can make history, it is your choice what history you want to make. This is your Conference. This is a Party-driven process.
We have been presented with a draft text of the outcome of the work of the AWG-LCA and AWG-KP. Before we enter into discussion on this text, I would like to request your indulgence again and allow me a few words.
Already more than 24 hours into injury time of this Conference, we need to take a step back tonight and try to see the LCA package in a holistic perspective. I am aware that no piece of this package on its own would completely satisfy your respective countries national interests. We came to Durban knowing that we will have to make compromises. That is the nature of multilateralism. Finding effective solutions to global problems requires give and take.
The elements of the packages are interlinked and we have spent the last two weeks and spared no effort to find the right balance between the four elements: the second commitment period under Kyoto, the set of agreements on long-term cooperative action, and the way forward to ensure the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention, as well as the establishment of the Green Climate Fund.
To take the next steps forward we must reach agreement on all of the elements of the Durban package when taken into the respective CMP and COP plenaries. These elements are:
The second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol
A decision on the work of the AWG-LCA, which comprises many areas, including a work programme and forum on response measures
A decision on the Green Climate Fund; and
Agreement on the Durban Platform.
Although the draft decisions will be considered individually in different bodies, collectively they constitute the Durban package. Colleagues, I do not need to impress upon you that we require the necessary assurances from each other to agree in principle to all the draft decisions constituting the package and that they will be adopted formally and expeditiously in their respective bodies without further debate and amendment. I am appealing for this approach to ensure that when the draft decisions go to their respective bodies we will be certain that each element of the package will be adopted as is.
In addition, I would like to appeal to you to reflect for a moment on what we have achieved – not only in the last two weeks, but in the last year. The texts before you are over 200 pages long. This is already a significant achievement. The overwhelming amount of work contained in the texts is the result of the work of your dedicated negotiators. It has been difficult to reach this point. You have come a long way. Bear in mind all the decisions that you have already adopted in the SBI and SBSTA – this is no small feat.
You have spent many a late hour debating each and every little detail. On the greatest majority of issues you were able to find mutually acceptable solutions. On a few areas, Parties could not agree. On these issues, the Chairs, the Ministerial Facilitators and the COP/CMP President tried their best to find the middle ground. Clearly these issues are important to you, but let us not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.
I would like to remind you of some of the important achievements that you now have the opportunity of putting into action, thereby building on our collective, multilateral response to climate change. I am particularly pleased that we have made significant progress on a number of issues that are crucial to vulnerable countries, including those in Africa. These issues include adaptation, technology development and transfer, finance and response measures. Negotiations on these issues have been long and difficult.
Of course, the package is not the best we can do – we must and we will do better. For now, it is important to preserve the integrity of the system and the trust among countries, as well as the trust of the global citizenry in the UNFCCC process. Let us not walk out here tonight to tell the world that we have failed to deliver on their high expectations. Let us walk out here tonight and tell them that we have made good progress, that the system is intact and functioning well, and that we will go to Qatar next year to build on our achievements!
I have full appreciation that some of you may feel that what we have achieved is too modest, while others feel that they are being asked to do too much. I believe however that the package before us is the bridge that will join us together.
Let’s make history tonight; let’s send a positive message to the world from African soil that we are taking climate change head-on; let’s strengthen multilateralism. That is the only system we have – it always seems impossible until it is done!
Thank you.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Continue reading here:
South Africa: Address to the Joint Informal Plenary by the COP17/CMP7 President, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane