Clear decision on Kyoto Protocol's extension will be key in Cancun

A clear decision on the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol will be key to reaching a balanced outcome in the international climate talks, said Brazil's chief climate negotiator Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo today (30) in Cancun during the first day of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP-16).

Speaking at a press briefing, Ambassador Figueiredo confirmed that the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol was one of the key issues raised during the day's opening sessions and suggested that resolving this critical issue in Cancun will be essential to moving forward in broader negotiations.

"That is one subject that galvanizes the G77, and where you will find very strong support for the continuation of Kyoto through a second and subsequent commitment periods", said Ambassador Figueiredo. "If we don't have a very clear decision on this in Cancun, it will be impossible to have decisions on other issues because we would not have the necessary balance among all the Bali Roadmap elements", he added.

Ambassador Figueiredo highlighted that the fight against climate requires great effort over an extended period of time and therefore a good outcome in Mexico will be essential to taking a step forward in this long-term battle.

"We need to come out of Cancun with a positive result. Our goal is moving forward, adopting action-oriented decisions that will translate into deeds the many words that have been said over the last few years on this issue", he said.

In his opinion, the warnings in the day's opening ceremony to not give into pessimism call for new ways of looking at old problems.

"I hope that all countries are coming to Cancun with this perspective", said Ambassador Figueiredo, "Brazil is ready to be flexible and willing to consider other possibilities. We recognize that if all countries stick to their positions, there will be no outcome - so we are ready to be flexible."

In that spirit, he added that Brazil has been making progress in voluntarily reducing its own emissions and that the country comes to Cancun with the necessary pragmatism to achieve a positive outcome in the Conference. "We come to this COP as a country that has decided to be a very active part of the solution. Brazil, as you know, has committed to important measures that will have very strong impact on our emissions", Ambassador Figueiredo told reporters.

In December 2009, Brazil passed into law a voluntary commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 36.1 and 38.9 percent by 2020. The country has also been successful in significantly curbing deforestation in the Amazon over the last six years - one of the main sources of carbon emissions in Brazil. In 2009, deforestation in the Amazon reached the lowest levels of the last 20 years, estimated at 7,464 square kilometers.

Source: Portal Brazil