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STATEMENT BY BRAZIL FOR THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE 10TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION AND THE 26TH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL
Thank you, [Mister/Madam] Chair.
We would like to begin by thanking the Government of Francefor hosting the Joint Meeting of the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.
Almost thirty years ago, in March 1985, the international community decided to adopt the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, as a response to growing scientific evidence of the depletion of the ozone layer. With this essential cooperative framework as a background, Parties managed to decide, only two years later, on targets and phase-out schedules for ozone-depleting substances, and adopted in 1987 the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
From the outset, both instruments recognized the particular circumstances and requirements of developing countries, including their special needs in terms of additional and predictable financial resources and access to relevant technologies.This recognition has allowed for for the establishment of a strong, functional financial mechanism, which is the Multilateral Fund, an institution through which developing countries have received financial and technical support to implement their commitments under the regime. Through this partnership between developing and developed countries, the Multilateral Fund established a method of work that made the Montreal Protocol the multilateral environmental agreement with the best record of results.
We have collectively phased-out 98% of the ozone-depleting substances, and there are early signs of stratospheric ozone recovery. Scientific evidence indicates that the ozone layer will have recovered to its 1980 levels before 2050 in midlatitudes and the Arctic, and somewhat later for the Antarctic ozone hole.
In Brazil, we have eliminated the use of CFCs, in accordance with the phase-out schedule determined by the Montreal Protocol, and have begun to implement the first stage of our HCFC phase-out management plan to eliminate these substances by 2040.By 2015, we will go beyond our committed target of 10% and willachieve a reduction of 16,6% of HCFC consumption, compared to the 2009-2010 consumption baseline.
These results confirm the relevance of acknowledging the specific circumstances faced by developing countries. We take pride in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol’s principles and solid institutions. They arethe basis of a fair and effective regime, in which those who do not have the same conditions are provided with the necessary means to implement its commitments.
This leads me to one of the most important issues we have before us in this meeting, which is the replenishment of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol. In order for us to continue and enhance our successful mode of work, it is important that Parties here gathered agree on a robust replenishment for the 2015-2017 period. The level of resources here decided will determine the extent to which developing countries will be able to fully implement their ozone-depleting substances phase-out activities. Moreover, additional resources will be necessary if developing countries are to prioritize climate-friendly alternatives to the ozone-depleting substances they will have to phase-out.
The contribution of the Montreal Protocol to the climate regime has been an issue extensively discussed in past meetings, and we believe that the most effective way to increase climate benefits of these activities on the short term is by providing developing countries with the means to adopt and expand the use of climate-friendly alternatives. It is a necessary first step, one that must be strengthened so as to allow all Parties to attest the benefits of this way forward.
To conclude, Brazil would like to reaffirm its full commitment to engage constructively in these negotiations and to contribute to a positive outcome. We stand ready to join efforts with the other 196 Parties in order to continue to write this story of success in an inclusive, transparent and consensual manner.