An upcoming high-level conference on climate change aims to galvanize the political will of the international community to respond to the challenges of climate change, a senior UN official said.
"It is only with this political will to resolve problems that we can achieve substantial progress at the conference," said Sha Zukang, undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, in written answers to questions from Xinhua.
The UN conference on climate change, slated for Sept. 24, will focus on a replacement for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012.
The conference will gather representatives from 154 countries, including about 80 heads of state or government, making it the largest meeting ever of world leaders on climate change.
The world leaders will discuss major issues related to climate change such as mitigation, adaptation, technology and financing, Sha said.
The high-level event will provide an important platform for the leaders to express their views and seek common ground, he said. "Consensus is the basis and prerequisite for finding solutions."
"In terms of addressing climate change and its negative impacts and undertaking emission reduction commitments, developed countries should take the lead in taking practical actions," he stressed.
Sha said more practical measures should be taken by the developed countries to help developing countries address climate change.
They can help alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in developing countries through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms including economic aid, technology transfer and capacity-building, .
Developed countries should also share with developing countries their experience in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, ecological rehabilitation, environmental protection and resources management.
Developing countries could then contribute to global efforts to curb emissions.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, 36 industrialized countries have promised that by 2012 they will have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent from their 1990 level.
But in recent years the emissions of many of the signatory countries have increased, a trend which the international community has been following with concern, Sha said.
The emissions of some developed countries which have not signed the protocol and refused to make emission reduction commitments have continued to go up, causing even more concern for the international community, he added.
Sha said that, under the circumstances, it would not be in line with the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to require developing countries to legally undertake emission reduction obligations, he said.
To date, the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions have come from developed countries while the emissions of developing countries have always been low. But it should be made clear that, due to social and economic development needs, the portion of developing countries in global greenhouse gas emissions is set to increase, he said.
Both developed and developing countries agree on the urgent need to act on climate change, but they have yet to reach consensus on the key issues of emission reduction responsibilities and obligations.
"This will put on trial the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities'," he said.
How to implement this principle by taking concrete policies and actions will be one of the most difficult issues that will be faced during the negotiations, he added.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article