Meeting Notes Summary - Dec. 8, 2009

Meeting of the SBI
10:00 am -13:00 pm

Notes by Gordon LaForge

Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation – focus: technology sharing and financing. Negotiations focused on the financial mechanism through which funding is transferred from developed countries to developing countries towards efforts to cut carbon emissions. The developed and developing world are at odds over the issue of financing. The rich countries think the mechanism is more or less fine and they’re willing to contribute a modest increase to its stores. The poor countries think it needs an overhaul and a substantial amount of funding from the rich world.

G77 and China emphasized how critical technology sharing and finance are for combating climate change and for sustainable development. They believe that developed countries have skirted their responsibility and failed to meet their technology and finance obligations to the developing world. Grenada and Algeria endorsed this statement.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the intergovernmental financing arm of the UNFCCC, reported on specific projects and financing figures. China emphasized the need for “significant increase” in the financial support given by the developed world, and that structural changes were necessary. Representing the EU, Sweden responded that they support the GEF and are committed to adequate replenishment of its funds. Representing the African nations, Algeria voiced its support for China.