17/11/08

Senior Legislators from across the Americas to convene in the Congress of Mexico from the 22nd-24th November to address the twin challenge of the financial and climate crisis.

The meeting follows the G20 summit in Washington and is intended to help facilitate dialogue among lawmakers ahead of negotiations between developed and developing countries on a draft global warming agreement ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland, in early December.

Hosted by the Mexican Congress, this first meeting of the GLOBE Americas Legislators’ Forum will bring together senior legislators from North, Central, South American and Caribbean countries. It marks the first time legislators from all the Americas have assembled specifically to discuss and agree on measures to address climate change.

“In the context of the current economic slowdown, we will be examining how the low carbon agenda can act as an engine for economic recovery while at the same time increasing energy and climate security,” said Elliot Morley MP, President of GLOBE International. “A statement of intent from this Forum would be a significant advance ahead of the UNFCCC talks in Poland in December, and demonstrate that it is possible for politicians from the developed and developing world to break the current deadlock and agree on a way ahead,” added Morley.

The Americas is an extremely diverse region containing both highly developed and developing economies. This Forum represents an opportunity for politicians from across the development divide to demonstrate real leadership in addressing the connections between climate change, the economy, energy, and food security.

“Latin American and Caribbean countries are part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change while fostering economic growth,” said Pamela Cox, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean. “A level playing field in the international climate change debate is needed in order to ensure that there is synergy, not antagonism, between the twin goals of economic growth and environmental responsibility. When presented in this context, Latin American countries are keen to do their part by engaging and leading,” added Cox.

Members of GLOBE International anticipate that the Forum will generate a regional consensus statement building on the GLOBE Post-2012 Framework Paper agreed to by 100 legislators from the G8+5 (industrialized countries plus China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico) countries in Tokyo in July, to present to heads of government and to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland in December.

“Mexico, as member of the so-called ‘+5’ group of emerging economies and of the OECD, is uniquely placed as a bridge between the developed and developing world.  Climate Change will be one of the key challenges for all politicians in the coming years and this Forum provides a real opportunity to discuss the kind of regulatory, fiscal and legislative measures that we will need to take to both mitigate and adapt to climate change.” said Mexican Congressman Miguel Angel Jimenez Godinez.

Senior Brazilian Senate lawmaker, Senadora Serys Slhessarenko said; “Through this forum we will showcase regional leadership in areas such as forestry, biofuels and adaptation and demonstrate that the current economic circumstances provide a unique opportunity to put in place the investment needed to create the low carbon infrastructure that is essential to our future prosperity.”

GLOBE’s 2012 Framework Paper agreed in Tokyo includes a consensus agreement for a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 while differentiating developing country commitments according to capabilities. It is thought that the Latin American countries in particular will want deforestation to be included as a priority for any agreement, especially when the associated cost benefits for local communities and biodiversity are considered.

About GLOBE International:

• GLOBE is the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (www.globeinternational.org);
• GLOBE consists of senior cross-party members of parliament from all G8 countries and the +5 countries of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa;
• GLOBE shadows the formal G8 negotiations (formally participating in the G8 Environment Ministerial and Gleneagles Dialogue) and facilitates high level dialogues and negotiations between legislators on effective environmental and climate change regulation and legislation;
• GLOBE has produced formally negotiated policy recommendations from one hundred senior G8+5 legislators on an international co-operation framework for climate change beyond 2012, on sustainable biofuels and on illegal logging as well as position papers on market mechanisms, technology transfer, adaptation and energy efficiency;
• These position papers feed formally into the G8 negotiations as well as through the legislators to their respective head of government and party leaders;
• GLOBE's objective is to support ambitious political leadership, on issues of environment and sustainable development, from G8 leaders and the leaders of the major emerging economies. This is achieved through the development of high level negotiated policy positions from leading legislators from across the parliaments of the G8 and +5 and informed by business leaders and key international experts.
  

About COM+:

The COM+ Alliance (Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development -www.complusalliance.org) is a partnership of international organizations and communications professionals from diverse sectors committed to using communications to advance a vision of sustainable development that integrates its three pillars: economic, social, and environmental. By offering a platform to share expertise, develop best practice, and create synergies, COM+ hopes to actively support creative and inspiring communications across the world to bring sustainable development closer to the public. COM+ members include The World Conservation Union, UNEP, WB, CGIAR, GEF, Inter Press Service, BBC World Service Trust, Reuters Foundation, DEV TV, IFEJ, WBCSD, TVE, Southern Caucus of NGOs, Green Facts, Thomson Foundation, TVEAP, among others.

Media Inquiries

In London:
Adam Herriott
GLOBE International
herriotta@parliament.uk
+44 (0)20 7222 4602

In Washington:
Erika López
World Bank
elopezarteaga@worldbank.org
(202) 458-7516