The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

ACP PRESS RELEASE: 4 November 2009 – The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) Committee of Ambassadors has expressed concerns to the European Union on the threats of climate change to the ACP countries, and urged the Europeans to help them combat the threats.

The ACP Committee of Ambassadors was given the opportunity to raise their concerns to Swedish Ambassador, H.E Mr. Christian Danielsson, and the Director General for Development of the European Commission, Mr. Stefano Manservisi, in a meeting at the ACP House. Sweden holds the presidency of the EU at present.

Besides, climate change, both parties also exchanged views on the recently ratified Lisbon Treaty and its effects on the ACP-EU relations and the global financial and economic crisis.

However, much of the discussion was focused on climate change and efforts undertaken by both sides leading to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month.

In her welcoming statement, the chairperson of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors, H.E. Dr. Brave Ndisale, stressed that the problems of climate change are threatening to development aspirations and even the continuing existence of some of “our small low-lying countries.”

Like most of her colleagues who spoke during the session, Dr. Ndisale noted that what remains relevant to seriously address climate change is the need for follow-up with political will.

The representatives from the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, in re-iterating the Group’s call for the developed world to make commitments to the reduction of carbon-dioxide, also underlined the need for the EU to take the leadership role in the fight against climate change.

Some members of the ACP Group also called on the rich countries to show commitment by significantly reducing their Co2 global emissions.

The Ambassador of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Berhane Gebre-Christos, in expressing initiatives taken by the Africans to combat climate change, appealed to the developed world to help the continent address the effects of the changing climate.
Similarly, the Ambassador of Samoa, H.E. Mr. Tuala Falani Chan Tung, reiterated the need for political commitment by the developed world to reduce carbon-dioxide.
The Ambassador of Jamaica, H.E. Mrs Marcia Gilbert-Roberts, on the other-hand, whilst raising similar concerns, welcomed the series of global dialogues to address climate change.
Dr. Ndisale appealed to the EU to help the ACP states fight climate change by highlighting the need for the EU to assist in technological transfer.

She said that the developed world and in particular the EU, are generally those that possess the necessary technological resources and know how to deal with the problem of changing climate.

“Unless this know how is transferred to developing countries such as those from the ACP regions, we will be unable to meet the obligations that might come out from the Copenhagen conference,” she said.

The Ambassador of Sweden, Mr. Danielsson, welcomed the ACP concerns stating that they were taken on-board and suggested that such dialogues should continue.

Dr. Ndisale in thanking her Swedish colleague and Mr Manservisi highlighted the need for such discussions between the two groups to continue.
She said that the meeting was constructive as it allowed both sides to exchange views on issues pertinent to the parties.

For further details contact: iroga@acp.int