New York, Sep 28 2009 4:10PM
With countries least responsible for climate change bearing the brunt of the man-made phenomenon, sustainable development is being jeopardized by climate change, nations said at the General Assembly today.
Foreign Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering of Bhutan underscored that while climate change's "adverse effects will spare none," small developing countries will suffer disproportionately.
His country, he said, has a fragile mountain ecology and global warming threatens agriculture, the backbone of Bhutan's economy.
Nearly 30 of the nation's 3,000 lakes are in danger of bursting, while climate change is increasing the likelihood of flash floods, landslides, forest fires and droughts, Mr. Tshering noted.
Cyclone Aila in May had "disastrous and widespread effects in Bhutan touching every corner of the country," he stressed, adding that Bhutan does not have the capacity to ensure that appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures are taken due to limited resources.
Any discussion on climate change "must relate to equity and the right of developing countries to be able to provide better livelihoods to their people," the official stressed.
Also emphasizing the threat to sustainable development posed by climate change today was Wilfred Elrington, Belize's Attorney General, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
"We know all too well from the impacts of we are observing today that piecemeal action is not sufficient," he said.
In the face of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Mr. Elrington said that any response requires ambitious mitigation targets and bolstered support for adaptation mechanisms.
Given that small island developing States are already experiencing the devastating impacts of global warming, "then avoiding those adverse effects on these particularly vulnerable countries should be the benchmark for determining our targets and our levels of support," he emphasized.
Neighbouring Mexico today highlighted the need for economic incentives to encourage countries to fulfil their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano told the Assembly that her Government has proposed, in the context of the climate change negotiations leading up to Copenhagen, an innovative financing scheme – known as the Green Fund – that rewards the efforts of those States who adopt policies geared to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, without jeopardizing their development goals.
"The Green Fund fully responds to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities," she told the Assembly, adding that it is not just another financial mechanism which responds to conventional criteria.
"All countries must be able to receive financing, but the scale of the contribution will result from a combination of factors, which take into account, among others, levels of development, size of population, and volume of emissions," she said.
Sep 28 2009 4:10PM
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