South Centre Statement at the COP19 in Warsaw

We meet today at a new era of extreme damage from extreme weather events. The typhoon that swept through Central Philippines and other parts of Asia is the most recent example. The cost in lives and property of these events is very high.  Hurricane Sandy in the US caused damages requiring $60 billion for repair and rehabilitation.

Last year the world public hailed COP18 in Doha for agreeing to establish by COP19 institutional arrangements for loss and damage, including an international mechanism.

Meeting this deadline would be a visible sign of success in COP19.  Missing it would expose us to the charge of being heartless and uncaring to the most urgent needs of poor and ordinary people already suffering the horrors of climate change effects.

COP19 has been called the Finance COP by developing countries. What they expect is a concrete plan and roadmap on the way from now to the agreed goal of $100 billion in 2020.  Many developing countries have asked for a decision here for milestones such as $70 billion by 2016.

Also, Climate financing must be new and additional to normal ODA.

Unfortunately, we have reports from the OECD that ODA has fallen by a total of 6% in real terms in 2011 and 2012, the first decline since 1997. We don’t want climate financing to displace other worthwhile causes like poverty reduction, health and education. Thus there must be a reversal of ODA decline together with a tremendous rise in real climate financing, starting with a first round of funding to the Green Climate Fund next year.

If these two goals of loss and damage and financing are met in COP19, it will open the gates to greater confidence among Parties and to progress in negotiations towards the 2015 landmark. That is because equity is at the centre of any successful and sustainable agreement in mitigation. Loss and damage and finance are building blocks together with adaptation and technology transfer. Together they support the mitigation efforts of developing countries.

The South Centre will remain actively engaged in the UNFCCC which is the home of the global negotiation for our collective actions.

We hope COP19 will end successfully and make progress for the road ahead.