Historic inaugural ADP session takes place
The inaugural session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) took place last week. The ADP is mandated to develop a clear path toward an effective universal agreement by 2015, and a plan of work for enhancing mitigation ambition.
The following is a Statement made by H. E. Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, President of COP 17/CMP.
AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE DURBAN PLATFORM FOR ENHANCED ACTION (ADP)
Bonn, 17 May 2012
Statement by H. E. Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
President of COP 17/CMP 7
Executive Secretary,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you all to this session. As you would recall the Conference of the Parties by its decision 1/CP.17, decided to launch a process to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties, through a subsidiary body under the Convention to be known as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.
It decided to launch a workplan on enhancing mitigation ambition with a view to ensuring the highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties.
The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action shall commence its work as a matter of urgency in the first half of 2012.
You will also recall that it was decided that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action shall plan its work in the first half of 2012.
The ADP is required to report to future sessions of the Conference of the Parties, starting in Doha, on the progress of its work.
The ADP is required to report to future sessions of the Conference of the Parties, starting in Doha, on the progress of its work.
The ADP is an expression of the political courage and wisdom of the Parties that will enable us to adequately address the climate change challenges that face the global community. I am particularly encouraged to hear, as my Team informed me, that the Parties are very eager to immediately start with the substance work of the ADP.
First and foremost I want to take this opportunity to again thank each and every Party for demonstrating political will and commitment for achieving the Durban Outcomes. I am sure that you will agree that we did the right thing in steering the process forward.
At the launch the ADP, I want to draw your attention to the progress we have achieved in Durban at the end of last year where most of you were present and therefore are the owners of this significant outcome.
When South Africa undertook to host and preside over COP17/CMP7, we knew that we had a big task ahead of us. We had to deal with a number of uncertain matters and an enormous and unruly agenda that resulted in an extraordinary number of Groups and sub-Groups meeting at the same time. Despite these difficulties, history was made through the adoption of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action and a number of key decisions that in no uncertain terms reflected the Parties. commitment to turn over a new page. This combined effort by all Parties resulted in the turning point where we are today.
We agreed on the ADP which was part of a delicate package and anchored the Durban Outcome. The Durban Outcome includes the decision to finalize the outstanding work related to the amendment of Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol to secure the 2nd Commitment Period and finalize the outstanding work of the AWG-LCA in order to close it in Doha. We also agreed to launch a work plan on enhancing mitigation ambition and that the ADP completes its work as early as possible, but not later than 2015. While we are honoring these undertakings, our focus must always remain on implementation of existing obligations in as far as adaptation and means of implementation are concerned.
The ADP also provides Parties with the opportunity to consider what is needed to be done beyond 2020. We have to find a common agreement on what we need to do in Doha. It is important that we acknowledge the fact that we have to move the process forward and that we refrain from falling back on old unhelpful negotiating practices, but rather focus on those practices that worked and delivered the desired results.
I therefore want to appeal to you to ensure that the Agenda is adopted quickly and that we waste no time on this issue. I urge all Parties to engage each other constructively and in partnership to create a credible work plan for the ADP. We have to ensure that we prioritise and plan our work in such a manner that it can be finalised in 2015. With the target date only three and a half years away, time is limited and we need to take very seriously the desperate calls made by some of our brethren, especially the Small Island States, who depend on this process for their survival. We have no more time – the time is now to be leaders and take decisive actions to save our future.
With the launch of the ADP we are once again aligning ourselves with the commitments we made in the Convention in 1992:
In short we acknowledged .that change in the Earth.s climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind,. . and we acknowledged .that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,. and that we will be .determined to protect the climate system for present and future generations..
We are proud of the fact that we are the generation that adopted the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap. It is our generation that breathed renewed life into the UNFCCC process in Cancun. And it is this same generation that delivered the Durban Outcomes. We introduced the Indaba process to address the lack of trust amongst us and the need for greater transparency. Let us therefore continue to Doha as the generation of achievers.
As the COP17/CMP7 President, I want to again give you a clear commitment that my Team and I are ready to work closely with Qatar as the incoming COP18/CMP8 President and with all Parties. I have no doubt that we can reach our objective to give the global citizenry the hope and confidence to look forward to the future.
Once again I thank you for your support. I am continuously humbled by your kind words and I have full appreciation for the fact that without your valuable support I would not have been able to do this job. I want to wish Qatar all the best with their preparations for COP18/CMP8 which I have no doubt will become another successful COP with your full support.
Thank you.
Watch the webcast of the Inaugural ADP Session here.
