Statement by Mr. Petr Kaiser, Deputy Permanent Representative on the Climate Change (informal debate of the GA, August 2, 2007)

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Madame President,

Let me express the appreciation of our delegation for your initiative in organizing this informal thematic debate on such an important topic as the climate change. We hope that our two-day deliberations will contribute to raising awareness of this problem that, undoubtedly, constitutes one of the greatest challenges we have to cope with. All the countries on the globe, the developed and the developing alike, are affected. However, some regions in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia, and small Island States are more vulnerable. We acknowledge that some of the most serious implications of the climate change, such as SLR, droughts, natural disasters, and land degradation will cause problems especially for the least developed economies and nations. In this context, I would like to stress that it is the conviction of the Czech Government that only concerted actions on a global level with the participation of all countries, both the developed and the developing, can successfully address the enormous challenge of the climate change.

Madame President

The CZ fully associates itself with the statement of Portugal on behalf of the European Union made yesterday morning. That is why I will limit my statement to some specific comments related to our national strategies concerning implementations of our obligations under international regimes, as well as to domestic initiatives to curb the problem of carbon emission, to support renewable sources of energy and to promote clean technologies.

The overall framework of the Czech Government's activities in tackling the climate change is the concept of sustainable development. From this perspective the overall objective of our national strategy is defined: to limit negative effects of the climate change on the society and on the environment as well as to limit their costs. Several instruments have been already developed in this field, including a new legislature.

An important measure is the National Programme to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts in the Czech Republic adopted in 2004. This programme stipulates indicative targets for limitation of GHG emissions in coming years, namely a reduction in specific CO2 per capita emissions between 2013 - 2020 by 30% compared with the year 2000 and a reduction of total aggregate CO2 emissions by 25% compared with the year 2000 during the same period. At the same time, the National Programme aims at:

1. Adoption of measures to prevent an increase in the absolute value of consumption
   of primary energy resources;

2. support of economic growth mainly by increasing of energy efficiency;

3. advancement of the use of renewable resources.

Another measure adopted last year is the National Programme for Efficient Energy Management and Use of Renewable and Secondary Energy Sources for 2006-2009. A total amount of CZK 7 billion (USD 350 million) has been allocated for financing all relevant projects. Fields of priority concerns are:

1. Energy savings - the aim is to achieve savings of 2.6 % per year;

2. use of alternative resources.

I would like to add that both of the above-mentioned National Programmes, as well as other instruments in the field of legislature, economy etc., should be regularly revised and updated in order to reflect the latest development in research and technology, and last but not least, practical experience gained.
Madame President,

It goes without saying that the priority is given to the implementation of our commitments under the UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol. As a member State of the EU, the Czech Republic also participates in the Clean Development Mechanism. In this context, let me assure you that the Government the Czech Republic fully endorses the EU's ambitious targets to deal with the climate change, as well as the commitments to support developing countries, as described in detail in the statement by the PRES.
The Czech Republic, being fully aware of the global nature of the problem of the climate change, has already started some outreach activities to assist other countries.
A number of bilateral projects of development assistance have been designed to cover issues related to the climate change and sustainable development, namely in promoting the use of renewable energy sources, as well as the use of cleaner and more efficient technologies. In financial terms, those projects have amounted to a substantial share of the Czech bilateral assistance provided in recent years. Moreover, additional resources have been made available through multilateral channels.
Madame President,
Let me conclude, by yet once again thanking you for organising this thematic debate. We are looking forward to the Secretary General's High Level Event on Climate Change on September 24, an important milestone in the run-up to the Conference in Bali in December of this year. We are convinced that the Bali's meeting should provide an opportunity for creating a comprehensive post-2012 regime.
I thank you, Madame President