Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 & China is seriously comcerned about the emergency of a significant shift in the position of Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in relation to their insistance on a single legal outcome in Copenhagen. This completely refraims the agreement reached in Bali to have a two track outcome in Copenhagen, with the continutation of the Kyoto Protocol for legally binding mitigation efforts of developed countries (that have joined Kyoto) on the one hand, and on the other hand an outcome under the convention aimed at the sustained and full implantation of its provisions.

The approach seems to be aimed at the significantly retarding the negotiations by otherwelming each topic with masses of technical detail and ensuring that there is no outcome in the negotiation of deep and ambitious Annex I Party quantified emission reduction targets for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.

We have seen pledges from developed countries with extremly low ambition GHG emission reduction targets. In total these pledges add up to a range of approximately 17% to 23%  for Kyoto Protocol Annex I Parties (excluding the USA). These pledges are completely inadequate and do not match the levels of ambition requiered by the science. We have seen the rejection of an approach to use what is indicated by science as a starting point and determining ambitious Annex I Party quantified emission reduction targets for a 2nd Commitment Period using objective criteria.

We have seen proposals to transfer the so called good parts of the Kyoto Protocol to the AWG- LCA, which raises the question as to what might be the fate of so called bad parts. In this way the only outcome in Copenhagen proposed by some parties would be the results of the negotiation under the AWG-LCA.Effectevely, such proposals from some parties would be the result of the negotiations under the AWG-LCA. Effectively, such proposals from some parties would render the Kyoto Protocol inoperable and redundant, which raises the larger question of the future of the Kyoto Protocol in the eyes of some of our negotiating partners.

Such an approach and outcome is completely unacceptable to the Group of 77 & China.

The Group of 77 & China, maintains that the convention provides strong foundation for an inclusive, fair and effective international climate change regime which addresses effectively the imperative to stabilize the climate system while recognizing the imperative and right of developing countries to develop, address poverty and food security. In this context the convention is based on the principal of equity, where developed countries, who are most responsible for the problem need to "take the lead", as well as the principal of common but differentiated responsibilities where all countries act in accordance with their responsibilities.

As a reflection of these principals we have all agreed that Annex I Parties must "take the lead" in meeting their obligations to mitigate green house gas emissions, as outland in Art. 4.2. of the convention, through quantified emission reduction commitments. To achieve this, the parties agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, where Annex I Party emission reduction target are concretely enumerated and become progressively more ambitious step by step wise fashion from one commitment period to the next.
The Kyoto Protocol is the only legal instrument, that is delivering real emission reductions, from Annex I Parties.

Our task in the AWG- KP must built on this success by setting up the next steps for Annex I Parties, more ambitious quantified reduction commitments for the second and subsequent commitment periods, which are informed by science. In this process we also need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the mechanisms and rules under the Kyoto Protocol, drawing on our experience of implantation thus far.

In this regard, given that we only have one week of negotiations left before Copenhagen, the group is extremely concerned that we have made so little progress on all agenda items during this first part of the ninth session of the AWG-KP.

Finally, the Group of 77& China, calls upon all parties to built an inclusive, fair and effective international climate change regime with a strong Kyoto Protocol and a a strong outcome in the negotiation to enhance the full, effective and sustained implantation of the convention.

I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you of our full support and cooperation in this endeavor.