As world leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Summit, Mahmoud Bakr talked to head of the Egyptian delegation Maged George about Egypt's agenda Egyptian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George, who is attending the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen along with a delegation of government officials, parliamentarians, businessmen and journalists, said that an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol was necessary to guarantee the rights of developing nations, including Egypt. Egypt has been pressing for such an agreement at the summit meeting that ends tomorrow, George said. "Developing countries have been the main victims of climate change, and they deserve to receive more funding, technology transfer and training from the industrialised world." Egypt is one of the developing countries that want to renegotiate aspects of the drive to limit global warming. Due to its leading position on the Arab and African scenes, Egypt is in a position to speak for more than one regional group, being a member of the G77, the African Group and the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC). The industrialised world has been trying to impose various commitments on developing countries concerning ratios of reduced emissions of greenhouse gases. Arrangements con cerning reduced emissions were stated in the Kyoto Protocol, part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. But Egyptian officials want to see these arrangements modified. Egypt believes that climate change is the result of emissions from industrialised countries, which have been increasing from the industrial revolution onwards, and that the industrialised world has a responsibility to deal with the consequences of its emissions. The industrialised countries have certain commitments towards the developing countries, as is stated in both the Protocol and the Framework Convention, and they should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, transfer technology to the developing world and finance environmental projects. "There is a need for more research, monitoring and evaluation of the perils of climate change. The first world should help those developing nations worst affected by climate change," George said. There is a need for a better response from the developed countries, the minister stated, with the industrialised nations being subject to accountability during the monitoring process of the first commitment period between 2008 and 2012. The Russians, backed by other industrialised nations, have proposed financial and technological incentives for developing countries that accept a system of voluntary commitments. However, Egypt is against this approach, since it fears that voluntary participation may soon turn into a non-voluntary one. The incentives, George explained, are already in place. According to the Framework Convention and the Protocol, developing countries are entitled to draw upon these incentives as needed. Thus, while "Egypt has been asked to participate in voluntary commitment programmes, it is less than eager to do so," the minister said. "Egypt wants negotiations between industrialised and developing countries regarding future commitments to continue even after the year 2012. There is a need to set an immediate timetable for the reduction of emissions," George said. Continued dialogue between the industrialised nations and the developing countries is needed with regard to both the Convention and the Protocol, argued George. "Dialogue should be held at all international forums, including climate change conferences. This is the only way to avert the risks associated with climate change." George believes that the industrialised countries should help those developing countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. "This must be done before discussing the future commitments of the developing countries. There is also a need to discuss ways of limiting greenhouse gases and adjusting to climate change," he said. The minister also noted that technology transfer was a crucial issue. "There is a need to form a strong framework to accelerate technology transfer to developing countries. There is also a need to boost funds for technology transfer and provide technical support for the worst-affected nations," he said. "The Expert Group on Technology Transfer is trying to resolve some of these issues, but it has not been successful so far."
