Closing of the forty-second session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 42)

Statement by the Republic of Angola on behalf of the Least Developed Countries Group

11 June 2015, Bonn, Germany

Madame Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Angola has the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries. We associate ourselves with the statement made by South Africa in on behalf of the G77 and China and with Sudan on behalf of the African Group and Maldives on behalf AOSIS. Let me join other Parties in thanking you, Madame Chair, for your leadership and efforts at this session.

However, we are disappointed by the lack of progress of our discussions under many agenda items for consideration, in particular those that relate closely to agenda items of other negotiating bodies. Because we will have limited time for negotiations at SB 43, it will be more efficient to identify issues where progress is possible, and avoid spending a lot of time and effort on issues we believe cannot reach conclusion before there is more clarity on the form of the new agreement.

Madame Chair, the LDC Group welcomes the Report of the Structured Expert Dialogue on the 2013-2015 Review. The report recognizes that the current global temperature increase of 0.85 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is already causing widespread impacts on the 850 million people from the LDCs. Risks are just too high for LDCs for a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius. A 2 degrees Celsius temperature increase runs counter to the ultimate objective of the Convention. We therefore would like to see the Long Term Global Goal be set at below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The LDCs remain committed in seeing below 1.5 degrees Celsius anchored in the new Climate Agreement. The Group urges the ADP to take into consideration the outcome of the SED report and increase its ambition by adopting a 1.5 pathway, in the name of humanity.

The Group is disappointed that Parties were unable to conclude the consideration of the 2013-2015 Review at this session. Nonetheless, we recognise the value of the discussions that were had at this session, and we believe these form a good basis for the continuation and conclusion of the negotiations on this item in Paris. The Group appreciates the willingness of some partners to engage, and reiterates our commitment to working with all Parties in continuing our work to develop a decision on the Review for consideration at COP 21.

The LDCs welcome the draft conclusions arising from the discussions on research and systematic observation.

Madame Chair, on issues relating to agriculture, the emphasis on adaptation is very important for the LDCs. We believe that in the process of adaptation, LDCs contribute to some form of adaptation co-benefits. The workshops held at this June 2015 session on early-warning systems and vulnerability assessments as they relate to agriculture were extremely valuable by showing and closing gaps in information and providing extensive knowledge on increasing the resilience of small-holder farmers to the impacts of climate change in LDCs. We need to find means to help the most vulnerable small-holder farmers in LDCs to access this information in a timely manner. We look forward to the next call for Submissions and the last two workshops scheduled to take place at SBSTA 44.

Madame Chair, on REDD+, the Group welcomes the conclusions reached regarding key issues, namely non-carbon benefits, non-market approaches and safeguards which have been pending for many years. We look forward to the provision of adequate and predictable support from developed countries to enable the full implementation of REDD+ activities.

Finally, Madame Chair, on capacity building, the Group looks forward to the workshop to be organised back to back with the next ADP session to discuss further on potential ways to enhance capacity-building activities as expressed by Parties at this session.

I thank you.