***UPDATED: new time 19:00 CET, location conference room 2***

Paris, Wednesday 9 December:  The text of the climate agreement is scheduled to arrive with the French Presidency at 13:00 today, following consultation with Ministers late into the night.

The Least Developed Countries Group is working hard to see its issues represented within the text, as such wording can help preserve lives and livelihoods within the world’s 48 poorest and most vulnerable nations.

Who:

• Chair of the LDCs Group, Mr Giza Gaspar-Martins (Angola delegation)
• H.E. Pa Ousman Jarju, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources, Forestry, Parks and Wildlife for the Gambia

When: Wednesday 9 December, 2015, 19:00-19:30 CET
Where: Press Conference Room 2, Paris Climate Summit, Le Bourget, Paris.
Webcast: The press conference will be webcast live and available on demand post-briefing here
Advance questions: send to ldcchairangola@gmail.com or tweet @LDCChairUNFCCC

So far the Group’s particular concern remains the special treatment of LDCs as enshrined within the Convention, the continued diluted wording around Loss and Damage and still no clarity on the legal status of the agreement.

Negotiators from the 48 poorest and most vulnerable nations are very familiar with the draft negotiating text, having been closely involved since the process began four years ago in Durban at COP17.

The Group welcomes emerging consensus from other Parties such as the EU and Canada on the 1.5 degree goal, but feels there is room for more mitigation ambition within the wording of the text to make this a reality.

The Group maintains its position in the high-level negotiations, to ensure the agreement reflects the special needs and specific situations of the LDCs, and looks forward to working with all Parties and the COP Presidency to secure a binding, equitable deal.

For further interviews please contact: ldcchairangola@gmail.com