UNFCCC: G 8 leaders boost climate negotiations

PRESS RELEASE

G 8 leaders boost climate negotiations

Bonn, 8 July 2005 – "The commitment of the leaders of the G 8 to act now on climate change and to vigorously address the climate-energy-sustainable development interface will inspire current and future intergovernmental action", says Joke Waller-Hunter, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She expects the outcome of the G 8 summit in Gleneagles to provide a major impetus to talks at the next UN climate change conference later this year.

"In highlighting the central role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including as the forum for negotiations on future action, the G8 leaders have put the spotlight on the next UN climate change conference later this year in Montreal. As a near-universal agreement that establishes the long-term objective for action on climate change, the UNFCCC provides the forum for intergovernmental cooperation on this global problem now and, as the Gleneagles declaration states, for negotiations on future steps," says Ms. Waller-Hunter.

Ms. Waller-Hunter is also very pleased with the support expressed by the G 8 for the clean development mechanism (CDM). This unique mechanism assists developing countries in achieving sustainable development and at the same time assisting industrialized countries to achieve their targets under the Kyoto Protocol in a cost effective manner. She said, "it is crucial that the CDM delivers on its potential, and the support of the G 8 is of great assistance."

In November, Parties to the Convention and to its Kyoto Protocol will get together to discuss a number of issues related to the implementation of their climate change agreements. It is also likely that they will start addressing what needs to be done over the longer term, after the 2012-end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The longer term perspective provided by the G 8 presents an important backdrop to that discussion.

The first meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will take place from 28 November to 9 December 2005 in Montreal, Canada, in conjunction with the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

ENDS

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