Cancun: Parties Debate a Proposed Negotiating Text

By Makereta Komai, Climate Pasifika Media, Cancun, Mexico

04 December 2010 Cancun

There appears to be consensus amongst negotiators here in Cancun that the text introduced by the chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cop-operative Action (AWG-LCA), Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe that provides additional input into the outcome.

The informal session of the AWG-LCA was convened Saturday afternoon to gauge Parties views on the text, which was originally introduced as a conference room paper.

“There is a general feeling of a high degree of transparency from the chair and Parties appear to be happy. This is probably the spirit of compromise that Parties are moving towards, said Ambassador Luiz Figueiredo.

Most of the Parties in their intervention praised the chair for the transparent manner in which she has engaged with Parties in trying to reach an outcome that is acceptable.

“It’s now time to negotiate amongst Parties and not with the chair or co-facilitators, said a representative of Bolivia.

Tuvalu, the only Pacific Island Country to speak on the debate said after five days, Parties should ‘take the text and start negotiations.’

“The text represents a narrowing of perspective despite differences in opinions, said Ian Fry.

He acknowledged that some of the pushed for by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) are not reflected in the draft text, but that can be discussed in the negotiations.

AOSIS, like other countries is still considering the text that was received 30 minutes before the meeting, has not formulated its position on the draft text but indications are from interventions from Tuvalu, Grenada and St Lucia that at least three issues are missing from the text that need to be negotiated next week. These include the shared vision of limiting global temperatures to 1.5 degrees and limiting the concentration of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, the weakening of the adaptation language and a clear commitment on a legally binding agreement.

Papua New Guinea openly supported the proposed text as it outlines a new mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD)

Introducing her text, Ms Mukahanana-Sangarwe said her draft was built on the outcome of Tianjin and from her consultations with the Parties.

“The paper hopes to identify further opportunities of compromise, where Parties can reach understanding, said the President of the COP, Patricia Espinosa.

She assured negotiators that under her presidency she will ensure that there will be “no parallel negotiations, no selective segmentation of issues and no lack of transparency.”

The draft text will be presented to the Ministers when they begin formal negotiations on Tuesday.

ENDS

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