Statement by The Gambia on behalf of the Least Developed Countries group (LDCs) at the closing plenary of the eighteenth session of the conference of parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP18)

Doha, Qatar,

Mr. President,

The Gambia has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 49 Least Developed Countries.

We associate ourselves with the statements made by Algeria on behalf of the Group of 77 & China, Nauru on behalf of Alliance of Small Islands Developing States and statements to be made on behalf of the African Group.

Mr. President, we welcome the decision package adopted here in Doha.

Mr. President, we came to Doha with clear demands for a balanced package, taking all our concerns into account. But we are concerned that a number of key elements that needed to be taken in to account for a balanced package have not been sufficiently addressed. Therefore, Mr. President, we would like our concerns to be recorded.

We are deeply concerned about the lack of ambition reflected in the decisions adopted, particularly in relation to mitigation and finance.

We expect countries to come back no later than 2014 with significant mitigation ambition towards closing the pre 2020 ambition gap and a stronger agreement to be adopted in 2015 under the ADP.

Mr. President, substantial financial resources is absolutely fundamental to keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 C target and help our countries adapt to the unavoidable climate change impacts.

We are highly disappointed with the lack of details in respect of finance between 2013 to 2020. We urge all developed parties to increase their pledges and show their delivery.

We welcome the adoption of the amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

We acknowledge and welcome the political declarations made by Parties relating to assigned amount units carried over from the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, your team, the secretariat and all the Parties for the hard work. We thank the government and people of Qatar for warm hospitality.

I thank you Mr. President