© 2012 Economic Commission for Africa
Africa will not become the graveyard of the Kyoto Protocol – African Negotiators.
Durban, South Africa 29 November 2011 (ECA) - The African Group of Negotiators has vowed not to bury the Kyoto Protocol in Africa, reporters of the Information and Communications Service of ECA learnt in Durban today.
“Africa will not become the graveyard of the Kyoto Protocol”, Mr. Victor Kabengele wa Koudilu, one of the chairs of the Group and lead negotiator of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced at the opening session of the Ad-hoc Working Group on the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) at the COP 17 talks in Durban, South Africa.
Urging Parties to work towards a binding agreement in Durban, Mr. Kabengele declared that: “The African Group would like to state loud and clear that it will not allow African soil to become the graveyard of the Kyoto Protocol.”
He reiterated Africa’s position, adopted by the African Heads of State and government that developed countries should “take ambitious, legally-binding, quantified emissions reduction commitments in the second commitment period of at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020; and between 80 – 95 percent by 2050.”
He expressed serious concern about the slow progress registered on reaching a new accord, despite many hours of negotiations.
“In the light of the approaching deadline of the first commitment period, the African Group expresses its serious concern on the slow progress being made under the AWG-KP, particularly in relation to our work on aggregate emissions reductions numbers and securing the political commitment to a second commitment period,” he said.
Mr. Kabengele recalled that Africa’s constant position has been that the Kyoto Protocol should continue and expressed
“disappointment that some countries are not seriously committed to any future for the agreement.”
“Regardless of the views of our partners, the African Group is of the firm view that the planet cannot afford to waste thirteen years of negotiations,” he said, pledging Africa’s cooperation with the chair of the negotiations to ensure that an agreement is reached in Durban.
The Working Group is seeking a new legally-binding agreement on emissions reductions to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires next year. Kyoto is the only international legally-binding agreement and there are fears that if a successor is not found soon, global temperatures could rise above the two degrees level that scientists have warned could threaten the very existence of the planet.
Issued by the Information and Communication Service of ECA P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251 11 5510365 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org Web: www.uneca.org
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