The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Bhutanese delegation to the Eighteenth Session of the Conference of the Parities (COP18) to the United Nations Framework on Climate in Doha is rigorously working with the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to advance its position in the negotiations.
Bhutan is a net sink for green house gas emissions and has pledged to remain carbon neutral.
ln line with the LDC group position, the government of Bhutan supports the call for ambitious emission reduction targets for developed countries for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and to ensure that it comes into effect from January 2O13 so that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods.
The Bhutanese delegation in context of the LDC Group called for strong financial support from developed countries to help developing countries adapt to adverse effects of climate change.
It serves as coordinator for the LDCs’ position calling for the early launching of the National Adaptation Program process for LDCs, which would help countries like Bhutan that are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
The Bhutanese delegation carefully follows issues related to finance and works together with other delegations on strategies to ensure that that there is no gap between fast start finance, which willend from this year till 2020. While at the summit it plans to develop discussions related to REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation).
Many side events on various climate related issues are scheduled on the sidelines of the Climate
Change Conference
The delegation from Bhutan presented findings of a case study on “Loss and Damage” from changing monsoon patterns in Punakha Valley at a side event organized by the United Nations University on 26 November.
“This presentation is part of a broader program with least developed countries to provide inputs on the ongoing dialogue on the issue of loss and damage from climate change through extreme events like storms or slow onset events like melting glaciers, rising sea level,” stated a news release from the foreign ministry (MoFA).
About 7,000 delegates representing governments, United Nations, NGOs, civil society and media are participating in the Conference. The Conference is being held for the first time in the Middle East region.
The Eighteenth Session of the Conference of the Parities (COP18) to the United Nations Framework on Climate commenced 26 November in Doha with the election of His Excellency
Mr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Dy. Prime Minister of Qatar as the President of COP18 and The Eighth Session of the Conference of Parties (CMP8).
The Doha conference marks the closure of the first commitment period of Kyoto Protocol and will launch the Protocol in its next period of implementation.
The RGOB Delegation for the technical sessions is led by Secretary of National Environment Commission Dr. Ugyen Tshewang.
