UAE to host Kyoto Protocol workshop in September

The workshop is being organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and will be hosted by EAD.

Article 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol requires industrial countries and countries with economies in transition, to implement their emission targets in such a way in order to minimize the negative social, environmental and economic impacts on developing countries, including the oil-producing countries.

This Article also calls for the consideration of the actions necessary to minimize these effects and identifies the list of issues to be considered to include "the establishment of funding, insurance and transfer of technology."

Expected to attend the workshop are representatives from the UNFCCC Secretariat, OPEC Secretariat and members, in addition to representatives from the U.S, UK, France, Scandinavian countries, Japan, Germany and developing countries such as India and Brazil. Moreover, representatives from the relevant organizations in the UAE are expected to attend and participate.

Mr. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of EAD, said that EAD was proud to be hosting such a workshop, as it presents a great opportunity for the different organizations in the UAE to benefit from the deliberations.

He added that the UAE plays a significant role in the deliberations of the Protocol and Convention and chaired the working group regarding Article 4 of the Framework Convention. The UAE was the Asian representative in the Kyoto Protocol Executive Board. Moreover, he added that with the follow up of the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Environment and Water, it is very important that the Article be implemented.

Some industrial countries have tried to avoid implementing Article 3.14 by using excuses such as not having enough information or evidence that emissions have negative impacts or that reducing emissions harms the economy, while developing countries are still seeking to have this Article implemented.

It is worthwhile to note that the only two developed countries that haven't ratified the Kyoto Protocol are the United States and Australia.

The UAE and Denmark will be co-chairing the workshop.