Climate Change TV » Kyoto

Dessima Williams (April 2010)

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:13:29 +0000

Grenada’s Climate Change Ambassador, Dessima Williams, describes how the mood has lifted. She notes that they need to move on from the lack of transparency and inclusiveness, and move on to rebuild confidence and a sense of purpose. She is adamant that “Copenhagen was not a total disaster” and points to the advance on the text and notes that both the LCA and KP camps were engaged. Important issues ahead include staying back on two tracks, producing a legally-binding agreement and ensuring there isn’t a gap between the commitment periods. She ends on explaining that multilateralism is an alternative to war, despair and environmental disaster

Vijai Sharma (April 2010)

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:00:56 +0000

India’s climate change negotiator, Vijai Sharma, discusses the imperative to ensure the two-track process on long-term cooperative action runs “hand in hand” with the second commitment period. As the end of the first commitment period approaches, he says it’s important there isn’t a gap. He emphasises that the feeling among the negotiators is that the Protocol and its supporting framework are sound and says that they need to maintain balance both between technology, finance and mitigation, and within the Protocol process.

Fernando Tudela (April 2010)

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:49:54 +0000

Fernando Tudela, principal negotiator on climate change issues for Mexico, explains how necessary it is to build trust and confidence in the process and between parties before Cancun. He says “we must give the multilateral process a chance”.

Christiana Figueres (April 2010)

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:48:15 +0000

Costa Rican lead climate negotiator, and the new head of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres discusses the upcoming schedule for the Cancun climate change conference in December and whether it’s fit for purpose. She notes some countries have not associated with the Copenhagen Accord, whether it was the process used to get there, the contested scientific basis or overall lack of ambition to the Accords. She sees the Accord as a political guidance to driving the two tracks forward, and not a separate entity.

Yvo de Boer (March 2010)

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:48:37 +0000

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, tells Climate-Change.tv, “The first thing we need to do is rebuild trust in the process.” He discusss what went wrong with Copenhagen, including the late change in direction, lockdown after the heads of state arrivals and exclusivity of the group behind the Copenhagen Accords. He shows confidence in the architecture the Kyoto Protocol has created, but recognises “it isn’t impressive in terms of the emission reductions it is leading to”. He notes the over-riding concern among developing countries that rich countries will not deliver on financial promises, lead on emissions reductions and, possibly impose economically restrictive targets on poorer countries. He assures viewers “Cancun isn’t going to fail”.

Penny Wong (December 2009)

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:57:11 +0000

The Australian Minister for Climate and Water, Penny Wong, takes questions from the press on the negotiations. She reiterates Australia’s commitment, stating their preference for a single agreement, but prepared to consider the two-track process. She reminds the press that the global challenge of climate change requires actions and commitments by all nations, particularly the largest economies.

Also see John Richardson, Australia’s Ambassador to Argentina, speaking from Buenos Aires in 2009

Jairam Ramesh (December 2009)

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:10:02 +0000

Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, reminds Climate-Change.tv viewers that this is a collective endeavour, not a war, and it’s not about “victors and losers”. He expresses his commitment and belief in the Kyoto Protocol and recognises the need for the “degree of glamour and political authority” heads of state bring to the negotiations. And see Jairam Ramesh speaking again from Copenhagen. Also see Pat Finnegan, Coordinator of Grian, speaking from Copenhagen

Xie Zhenhua (December 2009)

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:00:14 +0000

Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation in Copenhagen, speaks to Climate-Change.tv with the use of a translator. He talks about China’s expectations in Copenhagen, including wishes for a “legally binding and substantial document” by the end of the conference, and he says that it is important that the process stick to the Kyoto Protocol path and the need for wealthy countries to provide financial and technical aid for developing countries. And he talks about the need for delegates to translate political will into tangible results. **The interview is conducted in Mandarin Chinese with translation into English** Also see Loren Legarda, Philippines Senator, speaking from Copenhagen. And Su Wei, the head of the Chinese delegation in Bonn and the director of China’s National Leading Group on Climate Change, speaking from Poznan in 2008.

Artur Runge Metzger (December 2009)

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:36:27 +0000

Artur Runge Metzger, the European Commission’s top negotiator, assures Climate-Change.tv that the negotiators are organised and focused on moving the text forward before the heads of state arrive. Their remit is to “resolve the nitty gritty” of the mechanisms such as reporting and the institutional aspects of climate change financing. He talks about short-term financing, scaling slowly up to the $10 billion figure. He warns against extending the second commitment period as rollover of emissions rights would save the Kyoto Protocol, but not the climate. Also see Artur Runge Metzger speaking from Barcelona in 2009. And Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, speaking from Copenhagen.

Brice Lalonde (December 2009)

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:33:48 +0000

Brice Lalonde, France’s climate change ambassador, discusses the importance of political in the context of the current negotiations. He talks about how the process has developed since Kyoto was drafted in 1997, the ways in which negotiators have become more experienced, professional, and how they understand other parties’ difficulties more intimately. He says his aspirations for Copenhagen include a “good start” which can grow into something legally binding in 2010, solidarity, innovative financing and a schedule for deeper reductions in the future. He says he hopes for a “miracle of politics” when heads of state arrive at the end of the negotiations. Also see Brice Lalonde speaking from Bangkok in 2009 and Poznan in 2008. And Climate Group’s Policy Director, Mark Kenber, also from Copenhagen