Wednesday December 16, 2009

Malaysia backs Bolivian proposal

HILARY CHEW reporting from COPENHAGEN

MALAYSIA is supporting a Bolivian-led initiative to get rich nations to own up to their obligation and prevent them from abandoning the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. They want the rich to come up with results at the climate negotiations here.

Confirming that Malaysia was one of over 50 countries standing by least developed countries, Malaysian chief negotiator Dr Teddy Lian said: “Unlike Bolivia, Malaysia is not purely seeking climate debt repayment but wants to stand with other countries facing the disproportionate consequences of climate change.”

Speaking at the sidelines of the 15th UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Dr Lian said Malaysia also supported China’s declaration calling on developed countries to put up more ambitious targets for the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol.

The protocol requires industrialised countries to cut their carbon emissions at an average of 5% from the 1990 level between 2008 and 2012.

It also compels them to provide funds and technology to assist developing countries on renewable energy as part of the global fight against climate change.

The Bolivia Climate Debt Proposal comes in light of growing frustration over delays, blamed on developed countries, at reaching tangible figures for carbon emission cuts.

Besides street protests from non-governmental organisations, participating countries have also staged walkouts, first by the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu last Wednesday and then the African group on Monday,

It was submitted to the convention to amend the Kyoto Protocol by incorporating a concept called Emission Debt.

The concept incorporates two elements – adaptation debt and emission debt.

Adaptation debt calls for the compensation owed to poor nations for the damages resulting from climate change while emission debt refers to the compensation owed for inequitable share of atmospheric space.

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