Arab states must take action in Cancun

This brings us to Arab countries and their role in the summit.

Arab delegations must work on safeguarding the international climate change regime. The Arab region has much to lose if countries disengage the UNFCCC and take climate change talks outside of the formal process. Arab countries are strongest within the UNFCCC, where they receive the support of the G77 and China, and can best protect their interests within that framework. Arab delegates need to be more progressive in Cancun, show a spirit of compromise, and work on building trust and agreement between parties with different views.

So far, in the past week, Arab countries have not pushed enough. Although some countries have taken progressive positions, as a whole the region is not living up to its potential. Arab delegates come with substantial expertise on the issues, especially delegates of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. They need to pull other Arab countries together and seriously engage the negotiations as a unified group.

"The main issue that Arab countries should push for agreement on is the final legal form of the negotiations. Achieving this difficult task would undoubtedly restore faith in the process. Arab countries should not accept the idea that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” Arab governments should show flexibility and allow for certain decisions be finalized and implemented before others.

Some key areas where Arab countries can help make progress include the shape of the new climate change fund to be established, methods of adaptability to unavoidable climate change impacts, mechanisms for the transfer of environmentally-friendly technology, and ways to reduce the loss of forests. Moving forward on these issues at Cancun is crucial to preventing the collapse of the process.

Arab countries must also improve coordination and meet more regularly after Cancun to prepare for next year’s meeting in South Africa. They have to produce national action plans to lead by example, and show the world how commitment to action on climate change can be achieved. As the negotiations carry on, it is time to begin taking concrete steps forward."




Ashoka Fellow Wael Hmaidan talking about the importance of Arab Countries in fighting against Climate Change. Continued Here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]