Viet Nam is strongly advocating the adoption of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Vietnamese negotiator Pham Van Tan yesterday told Viet Nam News that the protocol was a fundamental way for countries to respond to the ongoing global issue of climate change.
Tan said Viet Nam required developed countries to make steeper emission - at least 35 per cent from the levels of 1990 by 2017, and 40 per cent by 2020.
Viet Nam is one of 190 nations that will send delegations to Durban, South Africa later this month to attend the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference will discuss the future of the Kyoto Protocol.
The first phase of the 1997 Kyoto Treaty, which requires developed countries to reduce emission of green house gases, finishes next year. However, nations are deeply divided about settting up a second round of commitments.
Ian Fry, adviser to the Government of Tuvalu on climate change, said: “The negotiations in the Durban at the COP17 will be very difficult. We’re hoping there will be an agreement for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and we’re also hoping there’ll be negotiations to start a new agreement that run parallel with the Kyoto Protocol.
“But there are a number of wealthy countries who don’t want a legally binding outcome out of the negotiation process. It’s very worrying for us as we clearly want to have more substantial actions on climate change,” he said.
Japan, Canada and the Russian Federation oppose the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol while the United States has reiterated that it does not believe conditions are ripe for such a move.
At the same time, members of G-77/China, the loose coalition of developing nations at the United Nations, were also split on some of the fundamental issues, according to Australian Bond University’s Adjunct Professor, Pak Sum Low.
Fry, who has 14 years of expertise in climate change, said: “It’s clear that no country wants to leave Durban without something in their hands.
“I think there is a clear interest in supporting adaptation to the impacts of climate change. This is an African COP and African countries are very strong on the issue of adaptation.”
“Even in the worst scenario, if we don’t get a new legally binding agreement to start the process, I’m sure we still get some sort of financial agreement on adaptation.”
Vietnamese negotiator Tan said Viet Nam would team up with other countries, particularly among ASEAN nations, to establish a stronger voice during negotiations.
Viet Nam also would utilise this opportunity to engage in bilateral climate change talks, he said.
