PNCC Statement on the 13th Conference of Parties

PNCC STATEMENT
on the
13th Conference of Parties (COP13)
Bali, Indonesia
December 3-14, 2007

As the distinguished Ministers and delegates to the 13th Conference of Parties (COP13) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 3rd Meeting of Parties (MOP3) under the Kyoto Protocol convene in Bali, Indonesia to resume talks on global climate change, the Philippine Network on Climate Change (PNCC), an alliance of non-governmental organizations engaged in the advocacy of climate change and sustainable development issues, enjoin the esteemed delegates to take decisive and prompt actions in the interest of building a safer climate and sustainable future for the whole humanity.

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed unequivocally that climate change is real and it is caused by human activity. It is incumbent upon the rich countries, which are primarily responsible for this problem, to take up the cudgels and demonstrate their commitment and accountability in combating this problem. No less than the succession of destructive disasters that claimed numerous people’s lives and wrought havoc on many poor and vulnerable communities and their livelihoods across the globe can attest to the pernicious effects of unmitigated climate change.

We believe that, in the context of sustainable development, the Bali Conference should forge a broad consensus among nations that would provide a clear road map on how to proceed reaching a post-Kyoto agreement in 2009. This should include a firm and binding targets and timetable for Annex I countries to take decisive action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help developing countries cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

We urge the Philippine government, along with other developing countries, to support negotiations on a post-2012 agreement for a stronger climate regime that will obligate all Annex I Parties to further reduce their emissions by 80% by 2050 to demonstrate leadership and responsibility in the battle against climate change. In addition, we insist that negotiators support stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies, technology transfer and capacity building frameworks, together with adequate, accessible and predictable resources and financing for the majority countries as beneficiaries in order to achieve a carbon neutral regime in the future.

The post-2012 negotiations must address the need to:

• Establish a legally binding framework that will take into consideration the historical contributions of developed countries in taking responsibility in reducing their respective emissions and in taking obligation to fund adaptation measures in developing countries;

• Establish an Adaptation Protocol that will ensure equitable distribution of mitigation and adaptation funds, especially to the poorest and vulnerable countries and communities guided by principles that are clearly and accurately defined with adequate, predictable and reliable financial mechanisms;
o Funding research including risk and vulnerability assessments;
o Investing in climate-friendly technologies for mitigation and adaptation measures; and
o Funding capacity building of key local stakeholders, especially the poor and vulnerable including women.

• Fund mechanisms that will further mainstream communication on climate change and raise public awareness from regional to national and to local climate change efforts;

• Integrate mitigation and adaptation measures with sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies recognizing that conversion of remaining natural forests would contribute to increased GHG emissions and the deprivation of important ecological services that sustain life;

• Create a global market mechanism that will provide regional to national and to local communities eco-social-equitable benefit-sharing among stakeholders;

o Ensure the consistency of bio-energy projects with clear sustainability criteria such that they will not compromise food security, health, livelihoods, water resources and biodiversity conservation and will ensure equitable access to resources and sharing of benefits between the rich and the poor;
o Impose “polluter pays” principle;
o Prioritize nation’s self-sufficiency in engaging in trade;
o Explore the potential of voluntary carbon market that will deliver sustainable development benefits to local communities; and
o Review and enhance the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) framework
Efforts should: 1) ensure equitable distribution of CDM projects across all regions; 2) prioritize renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, small hydro, geothermal, over non-CO2 reducing projects; 3) Assess the viability of avoided deforestation including mangrove and marine protected areas as an eligible project under the CDM, which is considered as an equally effective way of sequestering carbon and empowering communities to optimize and manage their own resources towards poverty reduction and sustainable development; and 4) increase the attractiveness of small-scale, community-based projects that have great potential for delivering sustainable development benefits to local communities.

• Undertake a critical review of natural resource and waste management treaties between nations that blatantly violate such existing international treaties under the guise of genuine development cooperation; and

• Ensure active and sustained participation of civil society organizations in international negotiations and in all national and local policy and decision-making processes;

PNCC strongly opposes the development of nuclear power as part of any viable non-fossil energy future due to considerations of safety, nuclear waste disposal and decommissioning costs.

We cannot afford to delay actions to address the growing problem of climate change. Therefore, change should start within ourselves in the way we live and consume scarce resources by inculcating the right values that promote environmental integrity through resource conservation, simple lifestyle and consumption patterns in all government policies and programs, corporations and communities.

Let us not deprive our future generations their right to an equitable and sustainable future!