TANZANIA YAWASILISHA TAARIFA YAKE YA MABADILIKO YA TABIA NCHI KATIKA MKUTANO WA COP 18 MJINI DOHA

 

Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Makamo wa Rais Mazingira dkt Terezya Huvisa akitoa statement ya Tanzania leo kwa Rais wa cop 18 hayupo pichani katika mkutano unaoendelea mjini Doha

 

 

Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais –Mazingira ambae pia ni Rais wa Baraza la Mawaziri wa Mazingira Afrika, Dk Terezya Huvisa, akijadili jambo na Mwenyekiti wa Dunia wa Kamati ya Taaluma na Sayansi ya Mabadiliko ya Tabia nchi, Richard Muyungimuda mfupi kabla ya Waziri Dk. Huvisa kuwasilisha taarifa ya Tanzania kwa Rais wa COP katika Mkutano wa 18 wa dunia wa mabadiliko ya tabia nchi unaoendelea mjni Doha (Picha na Evelyn Mkokoi).

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 STATEMENT MADE BY HON. TEREZYA LUOGA HUVISA (MP), MINISTER OF STATE – VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENT IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AT THE COP 18 MINISTERIAL MEETING,  05 DECEMBER, 2012, DOHA, QATAR.

His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, the COP 18/CMP8 President

Honourable Ministers,

Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC,

Distinguished Participants,

At the outset I would like to take  this opportunity to congratulate the State of Qatar, and you, Your Excellency,  for assuming the Presidency of COP 18/CMP8.  Equally, we are grateful and we do appreciate  the hospitality accorded  to us by the state of Qatar  and for putting at our disposal excellent facilities for the conduct of Conference.  I also wish to recognize the outgoing COP President Hon. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane of the Republic of South Africa for her excellent leadership of COP 17 held in Durban, South Africa where groundbreaking decisions were made. We fully endorse the statement   made by Algeria on behalf of the Group of 77 & China  and Gambia for LDCs.  As the President of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), let me on behalf of my fellow ministers of Environment in Africa, endorse and fully support the statement made by the  Kingdom of Swaziland on behalf of  the African Group.

Mr. President,

Following the successful outcome of COP 17, and other similar COP conferences which have built up the process this far, my delegation is participating  at this Conference with expectation that we now have the needed political momentum  and knowledge that provide sufficient opportunity for a breakthrough on matters outstanding from COP 17 in Durban, South Africa.  On this  basis, my delegation expects positive outcome from this conference on various key areas of concern:

Firstly, as the Kyoto protocol is the only instrument, which provides  a legal framework for all parties  to address the  mitigation challenge of climate change,  we must come up with credible decisions that will ensure that the  five year second commitment period starts on time and in a manner that will ensure the continued credibility of this legal instrument. We therefore call upon developed  country parties to show leadership by increasing the level of ambition for their  mitigation commitments for the second period and beyond.   Let me reiterate the position of my government that Kyoto market mechanisms should remain eligible for parties with Kyoto Commitments.     

Secondly, Financial support cannot be over emphasized. This might seem rhetoric but financial support and other means of implementation are critical to us. The adverse effect of climate change have intensified causing devastating impacts to the economy and to our wellbeing.    The impacts of sea level rise are being experienced than ever before, threatening the livelihood of island and coastal communities. This year alone Tanzania faced serious floods which  destroyed key economic infrastructure and facilities hence compelling the government to divert meager budget resources to restore  the  damaged infrastructure and facilities.  At this COP 18, decisions  should be made  to ensure adequate, predictable and scaled up finance for developing countries.   Hence, agreement  on how to address the  Loss and Damage caused by climate change to such vulnerable  countries  is  of particular importance to my delegation. 

 

Mr. President,

During the fast-start finance, we have witnessed a mismatch of information and figures between developed and developing countries.  We need to continuously ensure  transparent modalities and procedures on how we and disburse the promised 100 billion USD by 2020 as per Cancun agreement. The established Green Climate Fund, which has a balanced governance structure,  should be major conduit  for long term, predictable   funding for adaptation as well as mitigation for developing countries particularly for LDCs and Africa.  

Financing REDD plus actions is important. A REDD+ plus window should be established so as to enable the local communities to benefit from REDD activities and for countries to be able to address the drivers of deforestation. Tanzania like many other developing countries is managing the forests for global commons and therefore this service must be paid for by the international community. Commitment for long term finance for  REDD+ is the only way to ensure that  developing countries and communities can  increase their efforts in conservation and better forest  management. A decision on modalities and procedures for financing REDD plus need to be reached at this COP.  Tanzania believe that such financing modalities and procedure  will  ensure that local communities and host countries engaged in REDD+ activities do benefit.   Activities related to REDD+  must not undermine the livelihood of the  local communities  who mainly depend  on forest services  and should help countries to address the drivers of deforestation.  Addressing key drivers   of deforestation in particular energy needs, better agriculture production, and strengthening  the  governance of the forest sector  will  in turn assist poor countries in addressing poverty while ensuring sustainable development. 

 Mr. President,

In conclusion, my delegation  looks forward to a successful Doha conference agreement that will  forge a long term vision for  the implementation of Durban outcome in all fronts. I wish to reiterate my delegation’s expectation of a positive outcome in particular in the areas of increased  emissions reduction ambitions and  fulfillment of commitments  in the areas of access to finance, technology transfer,  and capacity building. A clear roadmap for addressing issues related to agriculture, and unresolved issues on  technology transfer and development, adaptation, long term financing including REDD plus  financing,  capacity building, education and timely information communication is of particular importance to my delegation. 

 

Lastly, it will be a miss if I do not congratulate the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms. Christiana Figueres and her entire team in the UNFCCC Secretariat for their tireless efforts in collaboration with the Government of Qatar which has made this conference a success.  My delegation has indeed enjoyed your entire team’s    dedication and commitment for the success of this conference.

I thank you all  Excellencies for your  attention.