Commonwealth Finance Ministers press for URGENT TALKS - for action on climate change

Commonwealth Finance Ministers press for
URGENT TALKS
- for action on climate change
By Neil Marks
Guyana Chronicle, 18 October 2007

COMMONWEALTH Finance Ministers yesterday wrapped up their two-day
annual meeting here calling for global efforts to mobilize and commit
financial resources to support countries vulnerable to climate change.

The central focus of their meeting was the battle against the effects
of climate change but the meeting did not propose concrete steps,
including what method should be used to reward countries like Guyana
for preserving their forests.

Their suggestions to help countries adapt to climate change include
special funds which are easily accessible to support investment in
renewable energy and adaptation measures and plans.

Guyana Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh told reporters the ministerial
meeting ended without “firm and decisive” actions but “clear
statements” were made.

Guyana and other forest rich nations have argued that compensation
should be provided for countries which have preserved the forest, but
when asked what sort of methodology should be used to do that, Singh
said the meeting was not designed to address that question.

The discussions, he said, were part of “a process” to push the matter
for debate at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala,
Uganda next month, and then to the Bali negotiations in December on a
new framework agreement to address climate change.

Singh said what is left to be done is “speaking very urgently not only
to our national authorities, but to international authorities to ensure
and to urge that those actions are taken.”

The communiqué issued after the meeting said ministers recognized that
the cost of inaction on climate change mitigation greatly outweighs the
cost of early action. They stressed that Commonwealth countries are
already experiencing the effects of climate change, noting that the
magnitude and frequency of natural disasters have serious negative
implications for growth and development.

The ministers called for concerted efforts to assure that the
challenges of sustainable development and climate change are integrated
into all levels of planning and decision.

They said early analysis will help governments consider the
implications of climate change for key sectors and to evaluate
proposals for action. Financing and policy frameworks are needed to
support adaptation by households, communities and firms as well as to
help innovation and application of low-carbon technologies and the
carbon market, they added.

The ministers said greater use of clean technology will be essential,
and this remains a challenge, pointing out that technical, economic and
policy barriers need to be overcome, and international cooperation
stepped up to facilitate technology development and transfer to the
developing countries.

In addition, they called for a Commonwealth initiative on the economics
of climate change to help member states develop and promote common
positions and take practical action on the basis of a clear
understanding of the implications of climate change.

However, Singh could not say when any of the specific objectives will
be achieved.

The aim of the plan is to help Commonwealth member states share
experiences, disseminate best practices and strengthen planning in the
context of climate change, among other issues.

The ministers acknowledged the work in Guyana of the Iwokrama
International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and called for
international support to strengthen its financial position to meet its
goal of demonstrating sustainable forest management.

Singh said the meeting was not the place for firm commitments to be
made on funding for Iwokrama.