Statement by the Gambia on behalf of the Least Developed Countries

Thirty-seventh session of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA 37)

Mr. Chair, the Gambia has the honour to speak on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  The Gambia would like to express it sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Qatar for hosting these very important climate talks in Doha and for the excellent arrangements.

Is it necessary to reiterate the importance of the SBSTA deliberations to our process? Not at all.

However, we have so little time allocated and there are items on the agenda that are of extreme importance to the group.

Mr. Chair, an excellent way to achieve the objectives of the thirty-seventh session of the SBSTA is to focus only on the technical issues associated with the items. All Parties should negotiate in good faith and avoid transforming the SBSTA into a negotiating body.

This rule of conduct in respect of the mandate of the SBSTA is important for all agenda items but especially in relation to agenda 12(c) on methodological issues under the Kyoto Protocol.

I wish to thank you for making available the report of the October workshop on the implications of the implementation of decisions 2/CMP.7 to 5/CMP.7 on the previous decisions on methodological issues related to the Kyoto Protocol, including those relating to Articles 5, 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol.

We believe that only technical issues must be resolved by the SBSTA and all political issues should be discussed in good faith within the setting of the AWG-KP. Mr. Chair, you know how much importance the LDCs attach to the results of this ad hoc working group here in Doha.

We are looking forward to this fruitful collaboration with all Parties and expect to see this session advance our work on all issues, in particular the Nairobi Work Programme and agriculture.

The group is also eager to follow the development of key issues such as:

• The work programme on a common tabular format for the “UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties”;
• The work programme on the revision of the guidelines for the review of biennial reports and national communications, including national inventory reviews, for developed country Parties; as well as
• The general guidelines for domestic MRV of domestically supported NAMAs by developing country Parties.

Thank you Mr. Chair and wishing all Parties successful deliberations here in Doha, despite the tight timing in which we have to work.