Statements and Speeches
Statement on Behalf of the Group of 77 and China, at the Closing Plenary of the 9th Part of the 2nd Session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP2-9)
Bonn, Germany, 11 June 2015
Co-Chairs,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
The Group of 77 and China is encouraged by the progress made to advance our work under the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force to be adopted in Paris later this year, as well as the work to raise pre-2020 ambition.
The Group also appreciates the cooperative and constructive spirit that Parties have demonstrated during this session of the ADP.
We wish to thank you and the co-facilitators for patiently guiding us through the Geneva text to streamline and consolidate options. We are confident that although our progress here in Bonn has been modest, the time spent will allow us to accelerate the pace of negotiations at the next sessions of the ADP. It remains important that we engage in our work in an open, transparent, Party-driven and consensus building manner in order to provide all Parties with the assurances needed to secure an equitable and ambitious agreement in Paris.
Co-Chairs,
We now need to move forward with determination and urgency. The Group wishes to stress the importance of increasing the pace at which we work in the upcoming August meeting here in Bonn. In order to avoid a protracted procedural discussion, it is crucial to have absolute clarity on the way forward, including on the work you intend to undertake as Co-Chairs in the intersessional period, as well as on what we can expect to be the basis and mode of work when we come back to Bonn. The Group feels that it is important to enter into substantive negotiations without any further delay.
In this regard the Group thanks you for the proposal you have made on the way forward.
We support the proposal that the Co-Chairs prepare, with the support of the secretariat and the co-facilitators, a single document based on the structure of Annex II of your scenario note dated 5 May 2015. We are reassured that all Parties' proposals remain on the table as we move forward towards Paris. We wish to make clear our understanding that we regard the documents that have been produced here in Bonn, as well as the document you have indicated that you will present to Parties after this session to have the status only of non-papers.
It is important that your document address the six core elements mandated by the Durban Platform decision in a comprehensive and balanced manner both in the agreement text and decision text, without prejudice to the Parties' proposals and would not prejudge the priority, sequencing and final placement of issues.
With regard to your proposal to present Parties a document indicating what in your view should go in the Paris agreement and what will need to be dealt with in decisions, the Group wishes to stress the importance of addressing all the elements in the Durban Platform in both places in a comprehensive and balanced manner, preserving the structure of the Geneva text and taking into account that there are many issues that Parties believe should be addressed in the agreement, as well as in decisions. We also believe that you should keep in mind that there are certain issues for which it may be too early to make a determination regarding their proper placement. It is therefore important that we leave here with a clear understanding that your document will be without prejudice to Parties' right at our next sessions to propose that options, paragraphs, elements, etc. be moved.
We wish to call on you again to create appropriate opportunities for Parties to reflect on the cross-cutting issues, such as scope, support, thematic parity, equity, differentiation, structure and legal form, at an appropriate time. This should not be a theoretical exercise, but rather take place in the context of specific text that Parties are working on.
The Group once again wishes to remind you how important it is to allow for sufficient coordination time for groups. We believe that the process will benefit greatly if Parties can have the opportunity to iron out differences on specific issues where there are several different options in the text.
Co-Chairs,
The Group of 77 and China regards Workstream II on pre-2020 ambition as an integral part of the ADP that has a direct bearing on the successful outcome of the Paris COP. We reiterate that Workstream II shall be treated in a balanced manner with Workstream I. The Group shares its concern on unbalanced progress between Workstream I and II in this session.
We recognize that we have only 10 negotiating days until Paris.
The G77 and China submission to advance our work
We need to go beyond a compilation and advance to a textual negotiation as soon as possible.
We request the co-chairs, with the co-facilitators and Secretariat to draft an inclusive paper based on:
- Parties submissions, interventions and presentations of their proposals made here in Bonn
- Facilitators outputs;
- Further submissions by parties intersionally
Co Chairs,
This should enable us to keep all of the options on the table and consider this new paper as a starting point, a basis of our discussions at ADP 2-10.
In order to allow time for further submissions, it should be issued with the scenario note for ADP 2-10.
We thank you for providing us with a number of slots for our Workstream II discussions here in Bonn. The G77 and China has engaged constructively in these discussions, including through the submission of common G77 and China position paper on elements for a Workstream II decision.
Under the skillful guidance of our co-facilitators we were able to make significant advancements in our discussions and understanding of the various proposals and welcome the note provided by the co-facilitators. We call for a document reflecting all Parties' views and inputs in a balanced and comprehensive manner as a starting point for Workstream II discussions during the subsequent sessions.
Co-Chairs,
The Group of 77 and China reiterates its support for you and your task of facilitating a Party-driven, transparent and inclusive process towards a successful outcome in Paris.
We are ready to negotiate at the August ADP session and are of the view that the early release of your document will allow Parties to come well prepared for the session.
I thank you.