Developing nations sceptical of Climate Summit
Thalif Deen
Developing concerns have expressed suspicions over the real intention
of the upcoming climate change summit to be convened by the UN
Secretary-General.
The 130-member Group of 77, the largest single coalition of
developing nations, is at loggerheads with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
over an upcoming one-day global summit on climate change in New York on
September 22. The summit, described as a high profile political
exercise, will take place in advance of a major meeting in Copenhagen in
mid-December to negotiate a new global treaty on climate change under
the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
In a recent letter to the G77, the secretary-general allayed some of the
fears of developing nations when he pointedly said: "The summit will not
be a forum for negotiations, which are, and must continue, to be
conducted under the UNFCCC."
"My intention is to make this (summit) a productive, focused and
interactive meeting by bringing together heads of state and government
to provide a sense of urgency for action and political direction to
UNFCCC negotiations," he added.
But at an ambassadorial meeting of the G77, which also includes
China, several delegates expressed concern over the format of the summit
and the logistical arrangements.
The G77 chair, Ambassador Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed of Sudan,
was mandated to meet with the secretary-general next week to clarify
several issues.
First, in terms of representation, is the summit at the level of
heads of state or heads of government? Or will it be at the "highest
political level"?
Second, what is the purpose of the secretary-general's proposal for a
"summary" of the outcome of the summit - particularly since the summit
is not involved in any negotiations?
One ambassador asked: "Is there a hidden agenda in the summit? And
will the so-called "summary" be viewed as some sort of political
declaration of the summit?"
- Third World Network Features/Inter Press
Service |
