Principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” must never be compromised

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 18, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the leaders’ meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) (zhs)

COPENHAGEN (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here on Friday the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” was the core and bedrock of international cooperation on climate change and must never be compromised.

In his speech, delivered at the opening session of the final summit segment of the U.N. climate change conference here, Wen said developed countries account for 80 percent of the total global carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution over 200 years ago.

“If we all agree that carbon dioxide emissions are the direct cause for climate change, then it is all too clear who should take the primary responsibility,” the Chinese premier said.

Developing countries only started industrialization a few decades ago and many of their people still live in abject poverty today, Wen said, “It is totally unjustified to ask them to undertake emission reduction targets beyond their due obligations and capabilities in disregard of historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development.”

Developed countries, which are already leading an affluent life, still maintain a level of per capita emissions that is far higher than that of developing the countries, and most of their emissions are attributed to consumption, Wen said.

In comparison, emissions from developing countries were primarily survival emissions and international transfer emissions, the Chinese premier said.

“Today, 2.4 billion people in the world still rely on coal, charcoal and stalks as main fuels, and 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity,” so any action on climate change must be taken within the framework of sustainable development and should by no means compromise the efforts of developing countries to get rid of poverty and backwardness, he said.

Wen urged developed countries to take the lead in making deep quantified emission cuts and provide financial and technological support to developing countries as “this is an unshirkable moral responsibility as well as a legal obligation that they must fulfill.”

Developing countries should, with the financial and technological support of developed countries, do what they can to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change in light of their national conditions, Wen said.

Nepali cabinet meeting on top of world concludes with Everest Declaration

KATHMANDU (Xinhua) -- The historic high-altitude cabinet meeting of Nepali government held to draw the global community’s attention toward climate change and its impact on melting Himalayas has come up with a 10-point “Everest Declaration” Friday.

The cabinet meeting presided by Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was held at Kalapatthar, the Base Camp of Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) at a height of approximately 5,164 meters.

“We have successfully conducted our historic cabinet meeting. We would like to thank all the people who have assisted us, supported us and given us help and support to make this event a grand success,” said Prime Minister Nepal in a press conference organized at Syangboche near Everest Base Camp after cabinet meeting.

Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal (C) waves as he attends the cabinet meeting at the foothills of Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) Base Camp at Kalapatthar which is approximately 5,164 meters high above the sea level on Dec. 3, 2009. The Nepali Government’s historical high-altitude cabinet meeting, attended by altogether 24 ministers, is held on the base to draw the global community’s attention toward climate change and its impact on melting Himalayas. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

“Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) is an icon of world environment. The 2,700-km East-West range of Himalayas and 1.3 billion people’s civilization, their culture and tradition, natural heritage and tourist development has contribution.”

He added that he would urge the developed countries to look at the impact of the climate change on the poor countries while attending the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen.

Global issue of climate change has negative impact not only on Himalayas and millions of lives living in this arena but also the environment, social-economic development, natural vegetation and tourist development sector, said Nepal addressing the press conference.

Due to climate change, threat of natural calamities like drought, flood, landslide, famine, and glacial outburst is increasing, he added.

“Through Everest Declaration-2009, we would like to express our collective commitment to climate change and open the financial support sector,” Nepal said.

To protect the Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) and rest of the Himalayan range from melting down due to the global warming, Nepali government has declared “Everest Declaration-2009”.

To conserve the vulnerable Himalayas form climate change, to draw the attention of global community, Nepal will cooperate with South Asian nations and the rest of the world, the prime minister said reading the first point of “Everest Declaration-2009”.

To launch a public awareness campaign in the national level to highlight the adverse impact of climate change on local habitants and life style, especially the marginalized people.

The cabinet also decided to extend the territories of Api-Nampa conservation area in Darchula district, Gauri Shankar conservationarea in Ramechhap and Dolakha districts as well as to extend Bardiya National Park.

With the Everest Declaration, the government has committed to increasing the conservation areas in the country from 20 percent to 25 percent and consolidating 40 percent forest area. It also focuses on raising awareness on climate change issues and seeking international commitment and support to address the issues.

The cabinet also decided to add the Banke National Park as a new national park.

A team of around 110 people comprising the 24 Nepali ministers including Prime Minister Nepal, national and international journalists, health and technical teams attended the event.