Download ACP common position paper - Global Climate Change Alliance

ACP/84/107/12
Brussels, 09 November 2012
SEDT/EJ/fk
ACP POSITION PAPER ON THE DOHA CLIMATE CHANGE
CONFERENCE (COP 18)
I. PREAMBLE
1. We, the Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States
affirm that climate change poses one of the most serious immediate and longterm threats that undermine the achievement of sustainable development and
the very survival of many ACP Islands and other Member States and must be
addressed with urgency and adequacy, and we acknowledge the Declarations by
the African Ministerial Conference of the Environment and the Alliance of Small
Island States Leaders, both of which were adopted in September 2012,
concerning the forthcoming COP18/CMP8.
2. We further underscore that the group of ACP Member States is severely affected
by, and actively combating, climate change and therefore plays a relevant role in
the negotiation process as well as in the implementation of the Convention.
3. We acknowledge the nexus between climate change, sustainable development
and poverty eradication and we endorse the assessment of Rio+20 that
eradicating poverty is the “greatest global challenge facing the world today” and
support efforts towards achieving the MDGs and post-2015 sustainable
development in a manner which will not jeopardize the progress made to achieve
the MDGs.
4. We reaffirm the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development, otherwise referred to as Rio+20, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in
June 2012.
5. We note with great concern that scientific evidence shows the adverse impacts of
climate change, including sea-level rise and storm surge, floods, droughts and
extreme weather events, coral bleaching, coastal erosion, melting of mountain
glaciers and changing precipitation patterns, and that these impacts are
happening faster and are more extreme than previously projected, affecting
livelihoods, peace and security, causing threats to water and food security and
displacement of our peoples.
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6. We firmly maintain that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for
negotiating the global response to climate change.
7. We expect that all Parties express their ambitions with legal rigour in Doha which
should be a conference focusing on negotiations that directly result in effective
implementation. In that regard, we fully support having a robust second
commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and call on Annex I Parties to
honour their commitments through ambitious mitigation commitments.
8. We reaffirm the ultimate objective, the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC
and its Kyoto protocol, in particular that Parties should protect the climate system
for the benefit of present and future generations, on the basis of equity and in
accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities. We note that ACP countries are also making mitigation efforts
according to their respective capabilities in order to contribute to achieving that
ultimate objective of the Convention.
II.
THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON FURTHER COMMITMENTS FOR
ANNEX I PARTIES UNDER THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (AWG-KP)
9. We recall Decision 1/CMP.1 which established the Ad Hoc Working Group on
Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)
with the aim to discuss future commitments for industrialized countries under the
Kyoto Protocol.
10. We note that the Protocol’s first commitment period concludes on 31 December
2012 and that the Decision 1/CMP.7 stated that “the second commitment period
under the Kyoto Protocol shall begin on 1 January 2013” and stress the urgent
need for the AWG-KP to conclude its work in Doha, in order to avoid a gap
between the first and second commitment periods.
11. We fully support having a robust second commitment period under the Kyoto
Protocol and call on Annex I Parties to honour their commitments through
ambitious mitigation commitments for the second commitment period and to
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reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 45% during the second
commitment period and by at least 95% by 2050, as compared to 1990 levels.
12. We further support a five-year second commitment period, 2013 to 2017, in order
to avoid locking-in low levels of ambition by Annex I parties until 2020 and to
facilitate the updating of mitigation commitments on the basis of the IPCC Fifth
Assessment Report.
13. We acknowledge those Parties that have communicated their Quantified
Emission Limitation or Reduction Objectives (QELROs) for the second
commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and urge those Parties which have
not done so, to submit information on their QELROs for inclusion in the
amendment to Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol to be adopted in Doha.
14. We agree that the amendments to the Kyoto Protocol shall apply from 1 January
2013 in order to ensure the legal continuity of the Protocol and to avoid a gap
between the first and second commitment periods.
15. We reiterate that Annex I Parties that do not sign onto the second commitment
period under the Kyoto Protocol, shall not have access to the Protocol’s flexibility
mechanisms.
16. We call for no use or a limited use of surplus carry-over of AAUs in the second
commitment period to ensure effective emission reductions and environmental
integrity.
17. We call on Annex I Parties to ensure the environmental integrity of their emission
reduction commitments and to guarantee an equitable and appropriate level of
domestic emission reductions by closing existing loopholes, as well as limiting the
use of carbon markets and project-based mechanisms.
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III.
THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP FOR LONG-TERM COOPERATIVE
ACTION UNDER THE CONVENTION (AWG – LCA)
18. We recall Decision 1/CP.13 in Bali, which established the Ad Hoc Working Group
for Long-Term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) under the Convention, to conduct
a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustained
implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up
to and beyond 2012.
19. We accordingly welcome the progress made to date by the AWG-LCA, with
regard to the establishment of the Green Climate Fund, the Technology
Mechanism, a mitigation transparency framework and the Cancun Adaptation
Framework, including the Adaptation Committee.
20. We call for the prompt, effective, and full operationalization of these bodies
including
the
provision
of
financial
resources
to
ensure
the
efficient
implementation of their respective mandates and work programmes.
21. We reiterate the importance of fulfillment by all Parties of their commitments
under the Convention and call for the AWG-LCA to expedite its work to reach an
agreed outcome pursuant to Decision 1/CP.13 (Bali Action Plan) and be
terminated in Doha in accordance with paragraph 1 of Decision 1/CP.17.
A. Shared Vision
22. We reiterate that, in order to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system, a temperature increase of no more than 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels is proposed and this requires:

Long-term stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to
be well below 350ppm CO2-equivalent levels; and

Global greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2015 and decline thereafter.
23. We underscore the importance of identifying a global goal for substantially
reducing global emissions by 2050 and the time frame for global peaking of
greenhouse gas emissions, taking into consideration the best available science,
to avoid further adverse impacts to ACP Member States.
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24. We reaffirm that future discussions on the global goal and a timeframe for
peaking cannot be undertaken in isolation, given the clear link to the work to
enhance mitigation ambition of Annex 1 Parties and the provision of financial,
technological and capacity building support to developing country Parties, in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.
B. Adaptation
25. We reiterate that enhanced work on adaptation should include international
cooperation to support implementation of adaptation actions, taking into account
the urgent and immediate needs of developing countries that are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, especially the Small Island
Developing States, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked countries and other
African countries. Special support should be given to adaptation efforts of smallscale and medium-size farmers through climate-resilient crops, good practices
and technology related to climate-smart agriculture.
26. We welcome the operationalization of the Cancun Adaptation Framework, in
particular the Adaptation Committee and urge the Adaptation Committee to
expedite its work, including on the following issues:

Identifying linkages between adaptation and the means of implementation,
including knowledge building, finance, technology transfer capacity
building, exchange of experiences and documenting best practices; and

Facilitating the National Action Plans process for developing Country
Parties that are not Least Developed Countries.

Emphasize the importance of traditional knowledge in contributing to
climate resilience and enhancing adaptive capacity.
27. We urge that measures should be taken to expedite work on strengthening
international cooperation in order to understand, reduce and compensate loss
and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change including
impact on agriculture, water, human health and other economic and noneconomic losses related to extreme weather and slow onset events.
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28. We call for the establishment of an international mechanism to address loss and
damage from the adverse effects of climate change, comprising of at least three
distinct components:

A risk management facility to promote risk assessment and risk
management tools and strategies at all levels and to facilitate the
implementation of risk reduction management measures;

An insurance facility to enable, administer and support risk sharing and
risk-transfer schemes for damage incurred by climate related disasters;
and

A “solidarity fund” to provide compensation for permanent loss and
damage caused by slow onset impacts such as sea level rise, ocean
acidification, floods, droughts and temperature rise.
C. Mitigation
29. We are deeply concerned that international action to address climate change
continues to be extremely inadequate and that emissions of greenhouse gases
continue to rise globally at an alarming rate.
30. We reiterate the urgent need to close the significant gap between the aggregate
effect of Parties’ mitigation pledges and aggregate emission pathways that will
prevent the increase in global average temperature to well below 1.5°C above
pre-industrial levels, and we call on developed countries to enhance their
mitigation ambition in order to close the pre-2020 ambition gap.
31. We reiterate concerns about efforts by Annex I parties to move away from a
legally binding into a weaker “pledge-based” regime, the conditional nature of
Annex I pledges, the low level of mitigation ambition and the associated party
specific
rules
and
accounting
methodologies
which
may
undermine
environmental integrity and significantly reduce the contribution of Annex I parties
to the global mitigation effort by 2020.
32. We call for the development of an agreed set of common accounting rules and a
compliance framework for Annex I parties that have not subscribed to the second
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commitment period of the Kyoto Protoco,l to assess their quantified emission
reductions.
33. We call on Annex I parties that are not parties to the Kyoto Protocol to undertake
legally binding commitments under the Convention that are comparable to those
of KP Parties in magnitude and effort and that are measurable, reportable and
verifiable with regard to mitigation.
34. We underscore that the extent to which non-Annex I parties will effectively
implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions under the Convention will
depend on the effective implementation and fulfilment by developed country
parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources,
capacity-building and technology development and transfer.
35. We recognize the importance of effective and continuing support for REDD+
activities and encourage all Parties at COP18 to agree on modalities for REDD+
results-based financing.
D. Finance
36. We note Decision 1/CP.17 on the adoption of the work programme on long term
financing and we recall that developed country parties committed, in the context
of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, to a goal of
mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 and we urge developed
countries to start making those financial resources available as of 2013.
37. We welcome the establishment of the Board of the Green Climate Fund and call
for prompt operationalization of the GCF including finalisation of the
arrangements between the COP and the GCF and a fast capitalisation of the
Fund.
38. We applaud the efforts to scale-up the mobilization of resources and call upon
the GCF Board/COP to specify in its reports the impact on ACP States of any
actions proposed to address the needs of developing countries.
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39. We call upon the Standing Committee to expedite its functions in assisting the
COP in the mobilisation of and in facilitating access to financial resources to
support adaptation and mitigation actions by ACP countries.
40. We express major concern that there will be a funding gap between the end of
Fast Start Finance (FSF) in 2012 and the $100 billion per year pledge by 2020
and we call on Annex II parties to significantly scale up the provision of new,
additional, predictable and adequate financial resources that are measurable,
reportable and verifiable (MRV) in order to address that gap.
41. We emphasize that public finance should be the main source of funding to ensure
it is adequate, predictable and sustainable while calling the private sector and
carbon markets to play a proactive role in investing in mitigating actions.
42. We further call for the establishment of a rehabilitation fund to contribute to
repairing damages in developing countries caused by extreme weather events
and the accumulation of weather events.
43. We affirm the need to ensure that adaptation actions are financed at full cost
through direct and simplified access to adequate new and additional public grantbased financial resources following a country-driven approach.
E. Technology Development and Transfer
44. We stress the urgent need to fully operationalize the Technology Mechanism
(TM), in order to support action on mitigation and adaptation, taking into account
the need to resolve the outstanding issues such as the link between the
Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and its
Network, and the operationalization of the Advisory Board.
45. We recognise that access to and the transfer of technology to developing
countries is essential for mitigating the effects of and adapting to the adverse
impacts of climate change and urge the Technology Mechanism (TM) to:

Identify effective mechanisms for the provision of financial and other
incentives for, scaling up the development and transfer of technology to
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developing country Parties in order to promote access to affordable
environmentally sound technologies;

Identify ways to accelerate deployment, diffusion and transfer of affordable
environmentally sound technologies locally developed;

Promote cooperation on research and development of current, new and
innovative efficient energy technologies, including those that provide winwin solutions;

Evaluate the effectiveness of mechanisms and tools for technology
cooperation in specific sectors.
46. We welcome the UN Secretary General’s programme on Sustainable Energy for
All and the Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in SIDS
and we call for global support for energy access affordability and efficiency for
ACP countries.
47. Noting the existence of barriers to Technology Transfer such as IPRs we call for
developed countries to double the efforts to establish a prompt agreement that
facilitates the access of vulnerable countries to new green technologies.
F. Capacity Building
48. We welcome the Durban Forum on Capacity-building and note that its first
meeting in May 2012 provided a platform for presentations and discussions which
highlighted the cross-cutting nature of capacity building under the various
thematic areas.
49. We welcome the proposal to launch a two year work programme under the
Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) to further enhance the monitoring and
review of the effectiveness of the capacity building framework.
50. We request the GCF and other designated operating entities of the financial
mechanism of the UNFCCC to provide financial resources to developing
countries in particular LDCs, SIDS and other ACP States to support the
implementation of the work programme.
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G. Review
51. We recall Decision 2/CP.17 which states that the review of commitments should
periodically assess the adequacy of the long-term global goal and the overall
progress made towards achieving it, in accordance with the relevant principles
and provisions of the Convention.
52. We urge Parties to continue working on the scope of the review with a view to
taking a decision at COP 18 in Doha, given that the first review should start in
2013.
53. We reaffirm that the review should periodically assess the adequacy of the longterm global goal, in the light of the ultimate objective of the Convention and the
overall progress made towards achieving it.
IV.
THE DURBAN PLATFORM FOR ENHANCED ACTION (ADP)
54. We welcome the successful launching of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action to develop a protocol, another legal
instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention.
55. We emphasize that the outcome of the process launched under the Durban
Platform for Enhanced Action should be a Protocol under the Convention,
applicable to all Parties, to be adopted no later than 2015, addressing, inter alia,
mitigation,
adaptation,
finance,
technology
development
and
transfer,
transparency of action and support, and capacity-building, as well as the work
plan on enhancing mitigation ambition to identify and to explore options for a
range of actions that can close the ambition gap.
56. We further emphasize that failure to close the pre-2020 mitigation ambition gap
could have profound negative implications for the scale, scope and nature of the
necessary commitment and obligations under the new Protocol.
V.
THE DOHA CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE (COP18)
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57. Climate Change policies and actions protect the environment and the planet as a
whole; equally climate change resiliency contributes to robust undertaking and
achievement of sustainable development which is the overarching goal of ACP
countries. We have every expectation that COP18/CMP8 in Doha, Qatar will
contribute to the ultimate objective of the Convention.
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