Developing countries call for negotiating text to be Party-driven

Bonn, August 10 (Meena Raman) – Developing countries said that the negotiating text for the consideration of Parties at the climate change talks be the responsibility of Parties and not that of the Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Ambassador Lumumba D'aping of Sudan, speaking for the G77 and China said that from now until Parties came to a conclusion, the Group would not mandate the Chair to prepare a text but that it was the responsibility of Parties to do so.

US protectionism increases barriers to climate-friendly technologies [1]

By Sangeeta Shashikant, Geneva

The urgent need for affordable technologies to be used as widely as possible to deal with the climate change crisis is facing barriers in new United States policies with protectionist elements.

There is scientific consensus on the seriousness of climate change and recognition of the need for swift worldwide deployment of low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission technologies. Yet, the US, which is potentially the source of crucial climate-friendly technologies, is adopting policies that will strengthen barriers to access those technologies.

Moves to tax South’s imports on climate grounds are unfair[1]

By Martin Khor, Executive Director, South Centre

Developing countries are opposing a move by the United States Congress to impose charges on developing countries’ imports linked to their emissions of gases that cause climate change as this unfairly pushes the costs coping with climate change onto them.

Can and should developed countries impose extra charges on the imports of developing countries based on the level of carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse gases that are linked to producing the imports?

ADB Safeguard Policy Statement Released

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released its new Safeguard Policy Statement "that consolidates and builds upon current ADB policies on Environment, Indigenous Peoples and Involuntary Resettlement." According to the ADB, this new policy "will enhance the effectiveness, sustainability and development impact of the projects ADB supports."