For the Media Release by SPREP Communication team covering the UNFCCC COP19 in Warsaw, Poland Talofa all, please find news for your use, from the Pacific at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which opened today in Warsaw Poland. I havent attached images to reduce file size but if you would like some please let me know. Please visit us at sprep.org and well be sharing albums on our Facebook page - facebook/SPREP.PEIN. If there are any particular images or news interviews/stories you would like on your delegation at this event please let me know at [email protected] Kia manuia, nan Headlines: · Global climate conference opens in Warsaw, Poland · Global Climate Conference called to reflect on a safe climate future for all · Vanuatu, well represented at global climate forum Global climate conference opens in Warsaw, Poland 11 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland - Sobering messages were delivered at the opening of the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework to Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland today. Findings of the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were presented by the Chairman of the IPCC, Dr. Rachendra Pachauri, strengthening the call for urgent action. According to the overview, each of the three decades has been successively warmer at the Earths surface than any preceding decade since 1850 and it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. Since the early 1970s, glacier mass loss and ocean thermal expansion from warming together explain about 75% of the observed global mean sea level rise. Mahatma Gandhi said A technological society has two choices. First, it can wait until catastrophic failures expose systematic deficiencies, distortion, and self-deceptions...secondly, a culture can provide social checks and balances to correct for systematic distortions prior to catastrophic failures said Dr. Pachauri. I hope this would be the kind of direction in which our discussions would take place supported by the science and findings that we have brought up in the report of the IPCC. On the 95th anniversary of independence for Poland the President of the UNFCCC COP 19 called for the world to close ranks and act together, referring to the typhoon tragedy in the Philippines as an awakening. I say awakening because it is yet another proof that we are losing this unequal struggle between man and nature. It got the better of us yet again, and will continue to do so in the future if we do not close ranks and act together to strike back. Climate is a global issue, global problem and global opportunity at the same time, said His Excellency, Mr. Marcin Korolec during his opening statement. It is a problem if we cannot concert our efforts. It becomes an opportunity where we can act together. One country or group cannot make a difference but acting together, united as we are here, we can do it. All 14 Pacific Island Countries that are members of the UNFCCC are represented at the global conference on climate change, as well as delegates from Tokelau who are attending as part of the New Zealand delegation. Although they contribute to less than 1% of the worlds total greenhouse gas emissions, the Pacific islands are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Its here in Warsaw, Poland that the Pacific region is hopeful their voice will be heard and action is taken to help lower global temperatures. Ms. Christiana Figueres the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC called for a level playing field in the face of climate change. There is no doubt that climate change has created an unlevel playing field for future generations. Previous generations unknowingly had an advantage; and now we know that future generations face a monumental uphill struggle. We must urgently level the playing field. The international political response to climate change began with the adoption of the UNFCCC in 1992, which sets out a framework for action aimed at stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The Convention, which entered into force on 21 March 1994, now has 195 parties. This year the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 19) is hosted by Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November. To access the opening statements of the COP 19 please visit: unfccc.int/meetings/warsaw_nov_2013/statements/items/7948.php ENDS... Global Climate Conference called to reflect on a safe climate future for all AOSIS has long advocated a science-driven, robust and ambitious response to the climate challenge. We are here to play our part in ensuring that we live up to our responsibility to our people and future generations, and we assure you of our support as we fight for our survival and work to ensure a safe climate future for all. - Alliance of Small Island States. The Alliance of Small Island States asked the international community today, to reflect on whether it is living up to the commitments made to each other over two decades ago with the establishment of the UNFCCC, to tackle and find solutions to climate change. The opening of the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC) to Climate Change was the backdrop for the call from AOSIS. In the immediate wake of Super-storm Haiyan, one of the strongest storms in recorded history, which left a wake of destruction across Palau, Micronesia, and most severely in the Philippines, it is hard to claim that we have, said Ms. Lara Daniel of Nauru, speaking on behalf of AOSIS during the opening. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy. It is a cruel reminder for all of us regarding what is really at stake at these talks. We should also recall that last year’s conference began with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy as a backdrop. The 14 Pacific islands represented at the UNFCCC COP 19 negotiate at the international climate change conference together as part of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) a coalition of 44 states and observers from small island and low-lying coastal countries. Together, Small Island Developing States communities constitute some 5 percent of the global population, they are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. AOSIS is calling for progress to be made at this COP on a legally binding protocol under the UNFCCC to be adopted no later than 2015 to keep global warming well below 1.5 degrees. This protocol must ensure there is no backsliding in the type, nature, or ambition of mitigation commitments. For many island nations, the cost of more extreme weather events has been mounting for some time: in the toll it is taking on our oceans and reefs; in the damage it is causing our food and water supplies; in the loss of our coastlines and parts of our sovereign territories; and, sadly, in the many lives lost, said Daniels. The safety, viability and survival of our members demands that the agreement be based on best science and therefore include a global goal of keeping warming well below 1.5 degrees. ENDS... Vanuatu, well represented at global climate forum 11 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland - Vanuatu means business at the international climate talks in Poland this month. The island nation has a 15 strong delegation including a cabinet minister at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change (UNFCCC COP19), all of whom were part of a six month project to prepare for the global negotiations. As part of this project delegates were selected to represent Vanuatu and participate in a range of different activities to develop national positions, prepare ministerial cabinet briefings, undergo negotiations training and a workshop to assign different roles and responsibilities within the delegation. Our delegation is wide and varied, we have members from the government, civil society, youth groups and private sector, said Mr. Albert Williams of Vanuatu. We prepared our delegation to be well informed of our key issues of finance, gender balance, adaptation and so forth, before coming here. The COP is tough and thats why we wanted them to have a feel of the realities of this event before coming to Warsaw so our delegation is better prepared. Vanuatu were one of the first nations in the world to relocate a community due to climate change impacts. The Tegua relocation programme began in 2002 and resulted in 100 residents moving inland due to coastal inundation impacting on their homes and drinking water. The climate change impacts continue to be felt by the residents of Vanuatu with water shortages, coastal inundation and erosion of coastlines, relocation of government infrastructure and effects on food crops. For Vanuatu the global climate change negotiations are vital to the survival of their way of life and investing in a well-prepared national delegation demonstrates their commitment. I think we achieved so much in such a short time with our six month preparation project, said Charlotte-Fleur Cristofari, coordinator of the project that is led by the Vanuatu National Advisory Board on Climate Change - Project Management Unit. Weve made history for Vanuatu on different levels: we made our first two submissions to the UNFCCC on Gender Balance and Direct Finance; this is our largest delegation ever with over 15 members, including a large female contingent, which is a first too. As part of preparation for the Vanuatu delegation, they underwent a one week negotiations skills training by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), helping to provide first time delegates with a background view of what to expect at the climate negotiations. It was through this project that other sectors were also provided the opportunity to strengthen their awareness and understanding about the UNFCCC COP. A seminar was made to students at the Emalus Campus of the University of the South Pacific; a national youth and climate change day was held across the 6 provinces of Vanuatu and; national media also underwent a one day training facilitated by SPREP. The pilot project is funded by AusAid, through Oxfam and SPC-GIZ Climate Change Vanuatu. It is supported by the National Advisory Board on Climate Change- Project Management Unit, Vanuatu Climate Adaptation Network (VCAN), SPREP, Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), USP and Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation. The UNFCCC COP 19 is hosted in Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November. ENDS...
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:18:59 +0000
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