After a tumultuous night at the negotiations which saw many-core negotiating issues pushed back or even pushed aside to next year, Environmental Ministers addressed the UN highlighting their priorities in the fight against climate change.
Here we present to you today’s key moments from the main developing countries present.
Credits: UNFCCC.
G77 & China
“Unfortunately some developed countries, including one that is responsible for almost ⅓ of historical emissions and ⅕ of current emissions have seemingly turned back on their commitments” that was one of the opening statements by the G77 + China, represented by Mr Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine.
The following are some of the key points:
- Insistence on common but differentiated responsibilities, equity and fairness.
- Climate finance should be depoliticised.
- Targets for reducing emissions and supporting developing countries hasn’t been met.
- While it didn’t point out to anyone specific, the group said that they “regret the cynicism shown by major partners towards multilateralism and the international rules-based order as a whole. This disruptive attitude, which in the context of the climate crisis also relies on pseudo-science, is a serious challenge that undermines our collective efforts and interests”.
- While it talked about what others aren’t doing, their speech didn’t say anything about what the G77 + China have done, are doing and will be doing towards climate action.
india
“Don’t bring new issues, don’t deviate and don’t change the goal post” that was the opening statement by Mr Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Minister of Information and Broadcasting of India. The words that followed to it kept the same tone.
The following are some of the key points:
- India is allegedly one of the six countries on track to meet their NDCs.
- The goal of 35 per cent reduction on the intensity of emissions, has done 21 per cent and expect to exceed their aim.
- Following from the first quote, the representative of India demanded to concentrate on NDCs implementation and the progress all can make and can review ate the Global Stocktake in 2023.
- Carbon tax: they are implementing it and dis encouraging for individual consumption.
- To finish, India’s envoy delivered five suggestions:
- Pre 2020 targets by the developed world: starting by “there’s no action here”, it demands that targets should be moved to 2023 until global stocktake.
- Finance: should be a rethink. The developed world owes 1 trillion dollars and only 1-2 per cent has been delivered. Finance needs to be on the table.
- Technology: available at an affordable cost. “We cannot profit from disaster”.
- Article 6: Should be extended to 2023 so credits owed don’t go wrong.
- Advice: “What is the use of a house if we don’t have a tolerable planet.”
turkey
Turkey’s speech, delivered by Mr Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment and Urbanization of that country, made emphasis on the limited capacity and responsibility of Turkey, a pattern we can find throughout the positions of the developing countries.
The following are some of the key points:
- Under domestic conditions, Turkey has always shown its commitment to climate action. Wants to remind you that Turkey is not in a leading position to decrease emissions and that can not be left behind as a country.
- Also, the representative said that Turkey’s justified demands need to be taken into account without bias.
- Regarding its climate performance:
- The increased installed capacity of renewable energy by 37% from 2013.
- Until November 2019, Turkey had 11 million trees planted across the country.
- Building ecological corridors in 22 cities.
south africa
Following the steps of the G77 and India, South Africa – represented by Ms Barbara D. Creecy, their Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries – brought to the table the links between colonialism and the “current problems of indebtedness, high levels of inequality, unemployment and lack of robust infrastructure.”
The following are some of the key points:
- South Africa has been experiencing serious and increasing climate change impacts including the frequency and severity of floods, droughts and storms. These are causing economic and social disruptions.
- Carbon tax came into effect on June 1st this year. The countries update report is showing greenhouse emission reduction from 2012 to 2015.
- COP25:
- Reach agreement on financial support to enable developing countries to communicate more ambitious adaptation and mitigation contributions.
- Robust modalities and rules with environmental integrity governing the market and non-market mechanisms and article 6 of the Paris Agreement including reaching agreement on how to contribute adaptation finance through a share of contributions of all market transactions.
united arab emirates
The United Arab Emirates, represented by Mr Thani Bin Ahmed El Zeyoudi, their Minister of Climate and Environment, delivered a speech focused on renewable energy and their NDCs.
The following are some of the key points:
- Encourage other countries to take into account the principle of equity and differentiated responsibilities. They call upon negotiators on the basis of the principle of equity give to pay special attention to adaptation and support to developing countries.
- The UAE is involved in reducing by 50% the use of polluting energy and to reach 50% in terms of renewables.
- Also funded an investment fund to ensure charging points for electric vehicles in cooperation with the UK.
- At a national level, the UAE has been focusing its efforts on broadening the use of renewables energy and has managed to ensure the units for the production of solar energy.
- The UAE has been working on increasing the funding for clean energy through the Baraka Project for projects related to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.