'South Africa stands ready'
2007-12-12 15:01
Cape Town - There is no longer any excuse for any country to ignore climate change and South Africa will contribute its fair share, Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali, he said 12 years after the Kyoto Protocol in 1995, the world was faced with further alarming and overwhelming scientific findings.
"As in 1995, we now, once again, have to take control of our common future," he said.
The climate challenge was urgent and global, and the Bali "roadmap" on the way forward should deliver a strengthened and effective multilateral climate regime.
This regime should galvanise deep reductions in harmful emissions for developed countries, and enable developing countries to leap-frog to a low carbon-intensity growth path.
"If we want to conclude our negotiations on a strengthened climate regime by the end of 2009, we must agree this week on the form and shape of the Bali roadmap. This roadmap must raise the bar for all.
"Some of our partners say that we will not get a climate deal without developing countries. Let's be clear on that: As a developing country we will take ambitious mitigation action.
"South Africa will contribute its fair share towards our common responsibility for the future. Our actions will be measurable, reportable and verifiable. Given the urgency indicated by science, there is no longer a plausible excuse for inaction by any country," Van Schalkwyk said.
Science dictated emissions had to peak in the next 10 to 15 years, and then be reduced by half of 2000 levels by 2050.
Towards this end, the Bali roadmap should signal the resolve of developed countries to reduce their emissions by at least 25 to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Comparable commitments by all so-called "Annex I parties", including those who had not ratified Kyoto, would be imperative.
Achieving climate stability and sustainable development in an equitable way required individual nations to rise above short-term self-interest for the benefit of the long-term global public good.
"We must all act with a greater sense of urgency. We have different responsibilities for the past; and we should all take common responsibility for the future. South Africa stands ready," Van Schalkwyk said.
- SAPA