PressRelease - Belize Leads Participation of SICA Countries at COP20 in Lima, Peru Belize coordinated the participation of SICA (the Central American Integration System) countries in this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP20) in Lima, Peru, December 1-12th. The Conference of the Parties is designated as the supreme governing body of the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Convention entered into force in 1994 with 195 countries submitting their instruments of ratification. These countries meet once a year, for two weeks, in order to evaluate the application of the Convention and develop the negotiation process between the Parties in front of new commitments. Belize is the Pro Tempore President of CCAD (Council of Ministers of the Environment) within SICA, and this is the first time that SICA countries are participating in the COP20 as a coordinated SICA delegation. Climate change is a high priority for Belize and advocates for urgent, ambitious action based on the best available science to respond to climate change. Climate change will impact small island developing states and low lying coastal states (SIDS) such as Belize. Expectations of COP20 for SIDS include the delivery of sound decisions on climate finance and on the preparations for climate change adaptation and mitigation relevant to SIDS. The UNFCCC remains the primary forum for defining the global response. For Belize, it was critical that decisions taken in COP20, Lima: 1. Recognize the special circumstances of SIDS 2. Ensure strong mitigation ambition to ensure the survival of SIDS 3. Ensure strong environmental integrity 4. Support undertaking urgent adaptation action on the ground 5. Address loss and damage from climate impacts that cannot be adapted to 6. Avoid onerous burdens and conditionalities 7. Ensure fairness and equity to all Parties 8. Provide elements of a draft negotiating text to serve as basis for a legally binding agreement based on accepted principles of international law. On Finance, Belize highlighted the need for: 1. Early capitalization of the Green Climate Fund 2. Greater clarity on how pre 2020 finance commitments will be achieved 3. Preferential access for SIDS to finance, technology and capacity building 4. Definition of climate finance to improve transparency END
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 23:34:52 +0000
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