Deliver on climate change agreements, says PM

CANCUN, MEXICO

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has challenged the international community to deliver on climate change agreements and stop engaging in protracted negotiations.

He asked the developed countries to deliver on what was agreed during the COP 15 climate talks in Copenhagen last year.

Addressing the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16) on climate change in Cancun, Mexico, the PM said that while most nations were unhappy with the undemocratic negotiation processes and the disappointing outcomes in Copenhagen, they swallowed the Copenhagen Accord, because of the voluntary emission reduction targets set, the pledge of $30 billion fast track financing, and the commitments of $100 billion annually by 2020.

Mr Odinga told the conference that parties were getting disappointed because of slow movement on the agreements.

He said even reports that less than 20 per cent of the $30 billion of fast track financing pledged in Copenhagen has been delivered is deceptive and unacceptable.

“It is not at all clear how much of it is truly additional. Moreover, almost all of $4 billion disbursed are for mitigation, and little for adaptation. Similarly, it was mostly loans, and not much grant,” the PM said.

The PM warned that the hope that drove the search for an agreement on cutting emissions is fading fast and getting replaced by despair.

Mr Odinga said that while COP 15 in Copenhagen last year was a disappointment, it was surrounded by an air of excitement, agitation and craving to accomplish something.  COP 16, on the other hand, was filled with “an overwhelming sense of resignation,” the PM said.

Mr Odinga said Kenya is keen to see that one of the key outcomes of COP 16 be “a clear reaffirmation of the $30 billion fast track financing to be made available during 2010- 2012.” He said that money must be truly additional, and at least one half of it should be grant and for adaptation.

The PM said COP 16 must agree on a consensus to establish the Climate Fund that will disburse at least $100 billion per year by 2020 in a manner that is measurable, reportable and verifiable. He said Kenya is keen on “a transparent, predictable and monitorable mechanisms for quickly making the committed resources available.”

Mr Odinga asked the developed countries to own up the fact that their past actions are responsible for the huge accumulation of green house gases in the atmosphere that is clearly unsustainable.

“The world is not asking for a favour. The world is demanding accountability. The large emerging economies must own up the fact that their share is rising rapidly. Therefore, blaming the past will not solve the future. The world is demanding the shared responsibility commensurate with today’s reality.”

He asked the most vulnerable countries to own up the fact that crying a victim will not stop their farm land from drying or the sea level from rising.

“We too have a role for the damages to our Climate, through destruction of our forests. And the world is demanding the spirit of self-help,” the PM said.

Mr Odinga asked the Cancun meeting to endorse the elevation of Unep into a single global authoritative body that guides global environment vision and oversees environment sustainability.

“This body should have the mandates, privileges, and internal governance comparable to those of a full United Nations Organisation, and should be located in Nairobi. He said that currently, the mandates and responsibilities in this area is scattered over a number of conventions and organisations located in different places.

Mr Odinga said that since its establishment in 1972 as the authoritative UN body on environmental matters, Unep’s mandates and financial base have been weakened considerably.