Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP)

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. IMAD ELDIN A. ALI BABIKIR, DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN, AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (CMP) (Copenhagen, Denmark, 12 December 2009)

Madam President,

Let me first start by thanking Ambassador John Ashe for his report and for the great effort he made in putting the KP paper which is clearly, from the point of G77, is based on the work of AWG-KP over the past four years.

I would like on this occasion of stock-taking to reiterate the great concern of the G77 and China over the slow progress in the work of the KP and the lack of will from our partners to engage constructively in the deliberation of the Ad-hoc Working Group on the KP, which is unacceptable. Also, I would like to reiterate our concern regarding the intent to dismantle or to kill the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding instrument we have now to effectively address the increasing emissions of Annex-I countries.

I would like to take this opportunity to confirm G77 and China's position that the paper produced by the KP Chair can serve as a good basis for the work of the KP in the remaining short time to complete the mandate of its work and decide on a second commitment period.

Let me conclude by reaffirming the strong and well-known position of G77 and China that we need to reach a deal here in Copenhagen that maintains the two tracks under which we are working, the legal framework of the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention, with more strengthening the Kyoto Protocol and agreed outcome under the Convention that enables the full effective and sustained implementation of the Convention now up to and beyond 2012.

Thank you.