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Bhutan in vulnerable 11 meet

24 November 2009

Bhutan, along with some of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, known as V11, attended the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) organized by the Maldives, last week.
The forum was organized with the aim “to amplify the voices of vulnerable, poor nations, which often go unheard in international negotiations” and with the hope that “it will mean better outcome at Copenhagen for vulnerable, developing nations.”
The Vulnerable 11 are Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Kiribati, Barbados, Bhutan, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Maldives and Tanzania. These countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and are also among the lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. Studies show that some of them, like the Maldives, could disappear within a century.
During the inaugural address at the CVF, the Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed called other vulnerable countries to embrace a carbon neutral future. “A group of vulnerable, developing countries committed to carbon neutral development would send a loud message to the outside world,” Nasheed said. “If those with the least start doing the most, what excuse can the rich have for continuing inaction?”
During the forum, the vulnerable countries asked developed countries to acknowledge their responsibility for causing climate change and they must, therefore, take the lead in responding to the challenges. They called upon developed countries to provide at least 1.5 percent of their GDP annually by 2015 to assist developing countries in their transition to a low-carbon economy.
In a joint declaration after their meeting, the forum expressed concern over reports about dwindling expectations for a positive outcome at the climate conference in Copenhagen. The concerns do not appear unfounded as US President and other leaders have confirmed through international media that there would not be a legally binding deal coming from next month’s Copenhagen climate change summit (COP15).
So how will this affect Bhutan? All environmentalists Observer spoke to said it was too early to rule out the progress of climate talks as the outcome would depend on the last two-day high-level segment of the conference. “It is best to remain optimistic,” said all.
According to Yeshey Penjor, Deputy Chief Environment Officer with National Environment Commission, who has been appointed as the incumbent head of the delegation, at technical level, to COP15, if COP15 failed to come out with a legally binding agreement for substantial emission reductions by developed countries beyond 2012 and if developed countries were not legally bound to provide financial and technological support to developing countries, the world community would continue facing climate change risk, potentially in an accelerated form.
“For countries like Bhutan, our vulnerability will be intensified. We will face daunting challenges with shortage of resources and capability to combat climate change impacts and adapt to such consequences,” he added.
Member of Parliament Ugyen Tenzin, who led the Bhutanese delegation to the forum, said the vulnerable countries would have to find appropriate group or time through which the declaration, endorsed by the forum, would be delivered across to the other members in COP15.
The other participants in CVF included President Tong of Kiribati, foreign and environment ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and representatives from Barbados. China, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the UK and the US attended the forum as observers.
The second meeting of the CVF is scheduled to take place in 2010 in Kiribati.

Bhutan, along with some of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, known as V11, attended the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) organized by the Maldives, last week.

The forum was organized with the aim “to amplify the voices of vulnerable, poor nations, which often go unheard in international negotiations” and with the hope that “it will mean better outcome at Copenhagen for vulnerable, developing nations.”

The Vulnerable 11 are Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Kiribati, Barbados, Bhutan, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Maldives and Tanzania. These countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and are also among the lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. Studies show that some of them, like the Maldives, could disappear within a century.

During the inaugural address at the CVF, the Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed called other vulnerable countries to embrace a carbon neutral future. “A group of vulnerable, developing countries committed to carbon neutral development would send a loud message to the outside world,” Nasheed said. “If those with the least start doing the most, what excuse can the rich have for continuing inaction?”

During the forum, the vulnerable countries asked developed countries to acknowledge their responsibility for causing climate change and they must, therefore, take the lead in responding to the challenges. They called upon developed countries to provide at least 1.5 percent of their GDP annually by 2015 to assist developing countries in their transition to a low-carbon economy.

In a joint declaration after their meeting, the forum expressed concern over reports about dwindling expectations for a positive outcome at the climate conference in Copenhagen. The concerns do not appear unfounded as US President and other leaders have confirmed through international media that there would not be a legally binding deal coming from next month’s Copenhagen climate change summit (COP15).

So how will this affect Bhutan? All environmentalists Observer spoke to said it was too early to rule out the progress of climate talks as the outcome would depend on the last two-day high-level segment of the conference. “It is best to remain optimistic,” said all.

According to Yeshey Penjor, Deputy Chief Environment Officer with National Environment Commission, who has been appointed as the incumbent head of the delegation, at technical level, to COP15, if COP15 failed to come out with a legally binding agreement for substantial emission reductions by developed countries beyond 2012 and if developed countries were not legally bound to provide financial and technological support to developing countries, the world community would continue facing climate change risk, potentially in an accelerated form.

“For countries like Bhutan, our vulnerability will be intensified. We will face daunting challenges with shortage of resources and capability to combat climate change impacts and adapt to such consequences,” he added.

Member of Parliament Ugyen Tenzin, who led the Bhutanese delegation to the forum, said the vulnerable countries would have to find appropriate group or time through which the declaration, endorsed by the forum, would be delivered across to the other members in COP15.

The other participants in CVF included President Tong of Kiribati, foreign and environment ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and representatives from Barbados. China, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, the UK and the US attended the forum as observers.

The second meeting of the CVF is scheduled to take place in 2010 in Kiribati.

By Metho Dema

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