STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE G-77 AND CHINA BY MR. MARVIN IKONDERE, PERMANENT MISSION OF UGANDA TO THE UN, AT THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON ADDRESSING THE EXISTENTIAL THREATS POSED BY SEA-LEVEL RISE (New York, 14 June 2024)

Co-Facilitators,

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the G77 and China.

The Group would like to point out the following regarding the modalities resolution on the High-Level Meeting on the Sea level rise in particular on PP4 during which the US, supported by the EU and UK, proposed to change the foot note of the Paris Agreement from the agreed formulation that had been adopted under the UNFCCC, to using the treaty series as a foot.

A number of countries objected to this, and a proposal was made to set up a small group to further discuss this issue, to which again, a number of countries objected.

Let me be clear! As G77+China

1. Regarding PP4, The G77 and China wishes to highlight that the footnote as it stands is a compromise made between the Member states on how to refer to the Paris Agreement. The G77 and China rejects any attempts to change the footnote and will not engage in any small group discussions in this regard. The Group would like to draw the attention to the letter addressed to the chair of the Second committee in the 78th session in which the group rejected ant attempts to change the aforementioned footnote.

The reference to the Paris Agreement adopted under the UNFCCC, and related in the footnote, "Adopted under the UNFCCC in FCCC/CP/2015/10Add. 1, decision 1/CP.1", reflects a carefully constructed political agreement between Member States emanating from lengthy discussions in the Second Committee over the past sessions.

2. The G77 and China would also like to flag that the said footnote is a reference to the UNFCCC COP21 cover decision 1/CP.1 entitled "Adoption of the Paris Agreement", which contains the Paris Agreement in the annex, and is available in all 6 UN official languages, while the footnote proposed by the Editing Section, "United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 3156, no. 54113", is a bibliographical reference that directs to the Paris Agreement only, and thus does not reflect the full scope of the compromise reached between Member States that also encompass provisions in the cover decision. Therefore, the group calls for the retention of the above-mentioned footnote and for no changed made to it.

Thank you!