Madam Chair,

I have the honor and the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this agenda item. Although agenda sub-items 4(a) and 4(c) have been deferred and sub-item 4(b) has been kept in the base, I would like to make a statement on behalf of the Group.

Madam Chair,

National communications is one of the dearest issues for Non-Annex I Parties, not only because it is a commitment for all Parties but also because it represents a valuable opportunity for developing countries, enabling us to better understand the problems related to climate change. At the opening plenary of every session of the SBI, the Group of 77 and China makes a statement highlighting that Non-Annex I Parties still face several technical and financial constraints in the process of preparation of national communications. It is not a political statement, Madam Chair. It is a sincere appeal to the organ, the COP, in the assessment and review of the effective implementation of the Convention to take appropriate measures ensuring that Article 4.3 of the Convention is adequately implemented.

One of the main difficulties that developing countries face in this regard is the access to funding through the GEF, which is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the Convention. In our previous statement, Madam Chair, we raised many concerns related to the role of the GEF in financing national communications and although the efforts that have been made, unfortunately, the GEF has not been very responsive to the requests of developing countries.

Our more recent concern is the ongoing discussion on the Fifth Replenishment of the GEF, especially on the related discussions on national communications from Non-Annex I Parties. During the last meeting of the GEF Council, there was a discussion on increasing the amount of money for the expedited procedures of national communications from Non-Annex 1 Parties from four hundred and five thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars.

Madam Chair,

With all due respect, donors seem that they have not understood the crux of the question. It is not an increase of 20 percent of the budget for each national communication that will solve the problems of most countries. What Non-Annex I Parties want is to have ensured new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by them in complying with their obligations under Article 12, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

Operational procedures for expediting the finance of national communications from Non-Annex I Parties establishing a maximum amount for those countries that wish to speed up the disbursement of such funds actually deny the right of agreed full cost. Moreover, a fixed amount of money for the expedited procedure for big or small countries regardless indicates the GEF has not been able to deal with different national realities of countries. The process of preparation of national communications from Non-Annex I parties must be controlled by the countries, defined by the existing guidelines for this purpose and not imposed to them. No criteria must be applied beyond what has been agreed to in these guidelines. Furthermore, it must be in line with Article 12.5 of the Convention, which stipulates that Least Developed Countries may present their national communications at their discretion.

In sum, the replenishment of the GEF is a discussion that must be driven by all Parties and not only by the GEF Council. The Group, in its proposal on Fifth Replenishment, in fact calls on ensuring active participation of recipient partners in the replenishment process.

Madam Chair,

The Group of 77 and China has confidently reiterated that the best way to make progress in this SBI agenda is to ensure timely disbursement of funds to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing countries in complying with the obligations contained in Article 12 of the Convention. The financial support that is currently available is certainly not sufficient and the procedures in having access to them are inadequate. Before starting any discussion on additional obligations related to national communications from Non-Annex I Parties, not only financing must be provided in a timely manner and significantly scaled up, but also technical support under the Convention must be provided in a sustainable manner.

I thank you for your attention.