20 November 2013
Mr President, your Excellencies and delegates.
At the outset I reiterate
our message of condolence to the peoples
of the Philippines and their neighbours
for the tragic loss of life and property
resulting from the recent typhoon.
This tragedy underlines
the real world consequences described in
the 5th Assessment Report of the IPCC, which
reconfirmed that human induced global warming
and resulting climate change is unequivocal;
that without urgently and significantly
increasing ambition, the global surface
temperature will exceed 2 degrees Celsius.
In addition, the UNEP Adaptation Gap report
confirmed that Africa is extremely vulnerable
to the impacts of climate change even ifthe
“Emissions Gap” is closed and warming is
kept to below a 2 degree increase.
The need for urgent
and ambitious action, demands a two-fold
focus in Warsaw:
Firstly, the full implementation
of the post 2012 Cancun, Durban and Doha
agreements; in particular, to close the
pre 2020 mitigation and adaptation ambition
gaps, while recognising that this can only
be achieved by also closing the finance,
technology gap and capacity gaps.
Secondly, we need a
clear roadmap, via Lima, to conclude in
Paris the ADP negotiation of a legal agreement
under the Convention, which is applicable
to all.
In order to fully implement
the commitments already made, Parties must
urgently:
Ratify theKyoto Protocol
amendments for a 2nd Commitment Period;
Finalise the Kyoto accounting rules; as
well as clarifying Convention pledges; and
Agree on urgent work of Convention institutions.
Agree on a concrete adaptation work programme
under the Nairobi Work Programme, as well
as National Adaptation Plan guidelines and
adaptation finance.
It would be remiss of
me if I did not lament the distinct lack
of progress on establishing a loss and damage
institutional arrangement as agreed in Doha.
Furthermore, it is critical that measures
to address loss and damage are supported
by finance.
Mr. President
Adequate and sustained
finance for this full implementation is
key. Warsaw must address the scaling up
mobilization of finance up to US$ 100 billion
per year by 2020. The governance arrangement
for the Green Climate Fund has progressed
well. However, the fund is currently an
empty shell. Warsaw should agree to mobilize
at least US$ 20 billion a year for the GCF
over the next 4 years. Similarly, the Adaptation
Fund is on the verge of bankruptcy and urgently
requires significant replenishment. This
will create confidence in the UNFCCC and
signal the international serious commitment
to address the climate crisis.
Mr President
On the urgent need to
raise pre-2020 levels of ambition, we recognise
that current 2012 to 2020 ambition is inadequate.
Therefore, Warsaw must adopt a work-plan
for adaptation and mitigation action, supported
by adequate means of implementation, to
close the ambition gap.
We are deeply concerned
about recent announcements by Japan and
Australia to significantly reduce their
commitments. Taken together with uncertainties
around finance, this sends a very negative
signal about the sincerity and commitment
of these Parties.
Mr President
In 2011 we initiated
a 4 year negotiation under the Durban Platform,
of an inclusive, fair, ambitious and binding
Protocol, legal instrument or agreed outcome
with legal force under the Convention, applicable
to all.
We must attract the
meaningful participation of all countries
and must therefore, be guided by the principles
and provisions of the Convention. We must
be comprehensive and build on the existing
system. We must be guided by science. We
must provide equitable access to sustainable
development for developing countries, while
ensuring environmental integrity.
We must deliver practical
results that add up to adequate mitigation
and adaptation action, which are fair, comparable,
but differentiated.
Mr President, we are
mid-way in a 4 year negotiating process
and South Africa is committed to work constructively
with you to set the foundation for a fair,
ambitious and legal outcome at the 2015
Paris Conference.
Finally, we would like
to express our appreciation to the people
and government of Poland for the warm hospitality
we have received in Warsaw.
Thank you
