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15 December 2007

After a long period of despondency there is a new spirit of optimism and cooperation in climate negotiations. This bodes well for the path from Bali to the conclusion of negotiations on the future of the global climate pact by 2009.

After 13 days of intensive negotiations in Bali, we have reached an agreement to launch a new round of negotiations with a view to strengthening the climate regime after 2012. This pathway to 2009 is laid out in the Bali Roadmap. A firm end date of 2009, by when we should agree on the details of a more effective and inclusive climate regime, has been set for what can be expected to be two years of intense negotiations. An ambitious work programme with clear milestones forms part of the outcomes in Bali.

The talks over the last two weeks were not easy. Great statesmanship and flexibility were required from all. Together, we lived up to the challenge.

More than 180 countries came to the table to urgently move us forward in response to the unequivocal and overwhelming science in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report.

Besides launching negotiations and setting a clear end date, the Bali Roadmap most importantly also sets the agenda for negotiations for the next two years. This agenda will evolve around four building blocks, namely: mitigation (reducing or avoiding emissions), adaptation (to the unavoidable impacts of climate change), financing and technology.

On mitigation, which was the most difficult area of the negotiations, the Bali Roadmap strikes a core balance between the respective contributions by developed and developing countries. As a developing country, South Africa, joined by amongst others Brazil, China and India, committed to doing more to combat climate change and to taking measurable, reportable and verifiable mitigation action.

Deeper emission cuts (more stringent targets) for developed countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol are also on the cards, within the emission reduction range of between 25% and 40% of 1990 emission levels by 2020.

The United States of America (USA) (who is not currently engaged in the full multilateral process) committed to joining the next two years of negotiations with a view to taking on measurable, reportable and verifiable emission reduction commitments and actions, including quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives that are comparable to the efforts of other developed countries.

The United States' commitment to join negotiations is an important step forward. But it remains a first step. What we expect from them is a quantum leap – to eventually accept internationally agreed and binding targets. Developing countries demonstrated real leadership in Bali. It is now over to the US to demonstrate leadership and take their fair share of responsibility.
Other significant achievements in Bali include:

* Launching of the Adaptation Fund, estimated to be worth up to $500 million annually by 2012, to assist developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
* An important shift of emphasis in the long stalled debate on technology transfer, with the launching of a programme that will eventually lead to the transfer of affordable, climate-friendly technologies such as energy-efficient equipment, solar and modern desalination technologies to developing countries.

Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 0815 1053 3819

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
15 December 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)