In the last meeting of Wednesday, December 9, the Comité de Paris (Paris Committee) of the COP21 climate conference reconvened to register the reactions of conference parties to the draft agreement Laurent Fabius presented at 9 am today.
Fabius opened by proposing that after Comité de Paris session closes, parties reconvene in the indaba format on differentiation, finance, and ambition issues. (“Indaba” originated as an important conference held by the izinDuna [principal men] of the Zulu or Xhosa peoples of South Africa.) He indicated that other unresolved text could be addressed in parallel in an indaba facilitated by Manuel Pulgar-Vidal of Peru, President of last year’s COP20 in Lima.
Malaysia got the best laugh (see below). The International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin team (IISDRS @enbclimate) at the UNFCCC climate change negotiations captured the delegate group impressions below in tweet form. Following is a twitter transcription.
South Africa, speaking for the G-77/China, the largest voting bloc: Concern about steady de-linking of the text from the Convention. No long-term vision on provision of support. Text is good basis for continuing our interactions.
Switzerland, for the Environmental Integrity Group: Acceptable starting point for further work. Concern that text as whole is unbalanced, especially on financing. Range of options not balanced. Text as it stands reflects compromise proposal & the hard position of other parties.
Maldives, for the Alliance of Small Island States: Prepared to move forward w/ text as basis. Must see below 1.5 degrees. Llnkage to adaptation & mitigation, & separate article on loss & damage should be maintained.
Barbados, for the Caribbean Community: On long-term temp. goal, options on 2 degrees are not acceptable, willing to work on both on 1.5. Not willing to sign onto any agreement which is certain death for our people.
Turkey: Prepared to work with all parties on common landing area.
Australia, for the Umbrella Group: Serious concerns, cannot see balance in the text, and leaves critical issues unresolved. We have provided reassurances that developed countries will continue to lead. We want a genuine step-change in addressing global climate change.
Ukraine: Satisfied w/ progress so far, looking forward to further cooperation.
China, for BASIC (India, China, Brazil, and South Africa): Need to reach consensus. Current text is open & balanced text & basis to address further issues.
Angola, for Least Developed Countries: Highlighted need to ensure access to finance & need further work on compliance to ensure implementation.
Guatemala, for the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean: Transparency system is very important & human rights should be included in agreement.
European Union: Time has come to resolve the key political issues to reach ambitious outcome. some options cross our red-lines & we are concerned that language important to ambition is much weakened.
Russian Federation: Is 48 hours enough? We must work concretely on text to find compromises.
Saudi Arabia, for the Arab Group: Called for reinstatement of co-benefits of adaptation for mitigation. Options w/ specific numbers would possibly not make the agreement durable. who will judge “those in a position to do so,” this concept cannot be accepted.
Malaysia, for the Like-Minded Developing Countries: Everyone seems unhappy so perhaps the text is balanced. Missing items, incl. absence of text on unilateral measures, & introduction of other items. Concerned by reference to NDMC, declaration that 2bis cannot be accepted & differentiation be eliminated from 3.3.
COP21 President Fabius said that the revised text presented tomorrow should be the penultimate (second to last) text. He called for parties to avoid restating their positions, but rather move toward compromise.
Fabius closed the meeting at 11:28 pm. Indabas commenced at midnight. These overnight consultations will cover treaty sections on loss and damage, mechanisms, forest, and preamble. Another Indaba will be held on differentiation, support, and ambition.
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