Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues, good morning!

Mr. Chairman,

        I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

        First, Mr. Chairman, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Government and people of Denmark for their warm hospitality. We would also like to express our appreciation for your able leadership of the AWG-KP during this critical stage of the climate change negotiation process and to the secretariat for their excellent arrangements.

Mr. Chairman,

        The Group of 77 and China is seriously concerned about the apparent positions of Annex 1 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in insisting on a single outcome in Copenhagen. This undermines the Bali Road Map Agreement reached in Bali to finalise negotiations on firstly, the further commitment of Annex I Parties for the second and subsequent commitment periods under the Kyoto Protocol and secondly, an agreed outcome under the Convention aimed at the sustained and full implementation of its provisions. This position undermines and reinterprets the provisions of the Convention itself; in particular, its principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Mr. Chairman,

        The current pledges from developed countries with extremely low ambition GHG emission reduction targets. In aggregate, these pledges are completely inadequate and do not match the levels of ambition required by the science (the IPCC puts forward a range of 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020). Annex 1 Parties have rejected the use of science as a basis to determine ambitious Annex 1 Party quantified emission reduction targets for a 2nd Commitment Period.

        Some Annex 1 Parties have also proposed to "copy" the good parts of the Kyoto Protocol into the outcome on Long Term Cooperation Action under the Convention. Clearly this raises the question of what are the bad parts which are not to be transferred. However, this position effectively results in a single outcome in Copenhagen and will render the Kyoto Protocol inoperable and redundant.

        In pursuit of this position we note that Annex I Parties have delayed reaching conclusions on the steps in the AWG-KP work programme that were agreed to in 2008.

        Mr. Chairman, this position and outcome is completely unacceptable to the Group of 77 and China and threatens our ability to reach an agreement here in Copenhagen.

Mr. Chairman,

        The Kyoto Protocol has proved and is proving to be extremely effective in delivering real emission reductions, at lowest cost to Annex I Parties through the flexible mechanisms. The task for us to complete here in Copenhagen is to build on this success by setting more ambitious quantified emission reduction commitments for the 2nd and subsequent Commitment Periods. In this process we also need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the mechanisms and rules under the Kyoto Protocol as well as develop means to address the potential consequences of Annex 1 Party policies and measures on developing country economies, drawing on our experience of implementation thus far.

Mr. Chairman,

        The Group of 77 and China, calls upon all Parties to build an inclusive, fair and effective international climate change regime with a strong Kyoto Protocol. I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you of our full support and cooperation in this endeavour.

        I thank you.