Information for journalists and other rapporteurs on official negotiation positions and chief negotiators of selected countries and country groups at the world climate conference in Durban, South Africa.
The Frame
The official website of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Christiana Figueres is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The official website of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa
http://www.cop17-cmp7durban.com/
Participants
Countries A-O (pdf)
Countries P-Z (pdf)
NGOs (pdf)
Selected negotiating positions
Germany
Information on the German perspective (the negotiation position is the joint EU position which was coordinated amongst the Environmental Ministers of the Member States) presented by the ministry in lead, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Chief negotiator: Dr. Karsten Sach
High-Level: Dr Norbert Röttgen, Federal Environment Minister
European Union
In lead for the positioning of the EU (pdf) at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) is the Directorate-General Environment of the European Commission. An overview on the European perspective can be found on the Commission`s (Directorate-General Climate Action)
http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/progress/index_en.htm
Chief negotiator: Dr. Artur Runge-Metzger
High-Level: Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action
BASIC: Brazil, India, China, South Africa
The BASIC group has been formed by the transition countries Brazil, India, China and South Africa in 2009. It is a coalition which -despite national differences and approaches- develops a consensual negotiating position for the annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs). Following their ninth ministerial meeting in China on 1/11/2011 the environmental ministers presented their joint negotiating position (pdf).
Further national interests as well as the respective negotiators are pointed out below:
Brazil
Brazilian interests: www.brasil.gov.br/cop17-english/what-brazil-is-doing [URL out of date]
Chief negotiator: Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Undersecretary-General for Environment, Energy, Science and Technology of the Ministry of External Relations
High-Level: Ms Izabella Teixeira, Minister of Environment India
Additional national communication (pdf) to the UNFCCC secretariat in regards to COP 17.
Chief negotiator: Shyam Saran, Indian Prime Minister's Special Envoy on climate change issues
High-Level: Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of Forests and Environment
China
China's Basic Position in International Climate Change Negotiations
Chief negotiator: Su Wei, Director-General Office of National Leading Group on Climate Change National Development and Reform Commission, China
South Africa
Chief negotiator Alf Wills, Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa
High-Level:
Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa
Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, as the President of COP 17
Ms. Bomo Edna Edith Molewa, Minister of Water and Environment Affairs of South Africa
Japan
The Japanese position for the climate negotiations in Durban and in regards to the Kyoto-Protocol
and more information
Chief negotiator: Masahiko Horie, Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Durban Statement dated 15/9/2011)
Kenji Hiramatsu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Director General for Global Issues
High-Level:
Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Goshi Hosono, Minister, Ministry of the Environm ent
Canada
Chief negotiator: Guy Saint-Jacques, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
High-Level: Environment Minister Peter Kent
USA
The US negotiating position as presented by Jonathan Pershing on 28/11/2011.
Chief negotiator:
Todd Stern, Special Envoy for Climate Change
Dr Jonathan Pershing, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change, US Department of State, head of the delegation for the ministerial session
Australia
The Australian minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in regards to the Australian position (pdf) on 25/11/2011
Chief negotiator: Louise Hand, Head of the International Division of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
High-Level: Gregory Ivan Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Russia
Chief negotiator: Oleg Shamanov, Director of International Cooperation on the environment at the Foreign Ministry
Group of 77 und China: G77
The 'G77 und China' comprises 132 countries. The position for the COP 17 was outlined by its speaker Silvia Merega at the opening plenary in Durban on 29/11/11. Latest developments from the point of view of the G77 are commented on www.g77.org .
Chief negotiator: Ms Bernaditas Muller
Switzerland
The Swiss position was decided by the Bundesrat (Federal Council) on 16/11/2011. At the ministerial meeting in Durban on 8.-10/12/2011 Switzerland will be presented by the Federal Councillor Ms Doris Leuthard and Mr Bruno Oberle, Director at the Federal Office of the Environment (BAFU). The delegation will be lead by Ambassador Franz Perrez, Head of the International Department at BAFU.
Synopsis
The synopsis (pdf) encompasses selected countries percentages of global emissions, trends and reduction targets as well as their related conditions. The presentation is based on official documents of the International Energy Agency and on the communications of reduction targets of countries to the UNFCCC secretariat under the Copenhagen Accord.
© Tanja Fröhlich, DKK
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