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 21 December 2009
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Copenhagen accord is open for signature

21/12/2009

The Copenhagen accord is open for countries to sign, the UN Assistant to the Secretary-General, Robert Orr, told reporters at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday.

Robert Orr

Robert Orr

Robert Orr says there is broad based support for the accord but the exact names would only be known once every country signs on.

"This is a political agreement, so signing on to this political agreement will simply provide the basis of understanding where the treaty negotiations begin. If this document takes on the kind of support that was indicated in the final plenary, then you have a real center of gravity for the treaty negotiations throughout 2010."

There was a general consensus to support the accord amongst what was labeled as "the smaller group" composed of 29 countries and the European Commission, and not five countries as reported in the media.

The 29 countries included the Least Developed Countries, represented by Lesotho, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) represented by Grenada, and the African Union.

The Group of 77, representing the developing countries, and chaired by Sudan, was invited to the closed meeting, but did not endorse the accord in the plenary session.

In response to reporters' criticism that no deal was made in Copenhagen, Robert Orr clarified that it was clear from the beginning that there would be no treaty negotiation but a political agreement, and that is what happened.

He also commended the immense role played by the Secretary-General to get a consensus decision in the end and bring on board all the other nations that felt excluded.

Jocelyne Sambira, UN Radio.

(duration: 1'38")

Sound bites

Robert Orr Cut 1

"This is a political agreement, so signing on to this political agreement will simply provide the basis of understanding where the treaty negotiations begin. If this document takes on the kind of support that was indicated in the final plenary, then you have a real center of gravity for the treaty negotiations throughout 2010."
Duration: 00:00:25

Robert Orr Cut 2

"The so called small group just to be very clear here was 29 countries and the European Commission-so 30 leaders representing the following groups: Lesotho representing the LDC's at COP 15 they have been selected by the LDC's to represent the LDC's and spoke on behalf of the whole group; Grenada representing AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States); Ethiopia representing the African Union and Sudan was invited as the chair of the G77, came as the Chair of the G77 but after the process was over said he was not there as the Chair of the G77 but was there as Sudan."
Duration: 00:00:47

Robert Orr Cut 3

"It is not a failure for the Secretary-General, quite the opposite. There were not had been a consensus resolution to put this before member governments had the Secretary-General not directly intervened in the closing plenary and quite honestly brought in all the governments that felt excluded from the process. The other major role that the Secretary-General played which I think can't be underestimated here is that he has been the one calling for heads of State and Government to own the climate issue themselves and it was phenomenal what we saw in Copenhagen. One hundred and twenty-eight heads of State and Government coming and getting down into the real guts of the debate over climate change".
Duration: 00:00:53

Robert Orr Cut 4

"Already going into Copenhagen it was clear that would be no treaty negotiation and no treaty agreement in Copenhagen. The goal was a political agreement and what it came out of Copenhagen was a political agreement, as you just heard me describe the process a few minutes ago, we would not know exactly how many people signed on to that political agreement until governments have a chance to literally sign on to it. If you take there public statement you can say this political agreement that was hatched out under intense negotiating circumstances does have broad base support but the exact numbers and nature of that support would be known until they actually take action".
Duration: 00:00:42