Japan advised we do not agree with Copenhagen Accord
In response to an enquiry from the government of Japan, the government has responded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with advice that the Copenhagen Accord does not adequately reflect the priorities of the Cook Islands therefore the Cook Islands will not align itself with the Accord.
The Copenhagen Accord was a document of 12 sections drafted following negotiations by just 25 countries, on 18 December 2009 following the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009. The Accord is essentially a political statement that is not legally binding nor enforceable. Countries were asked to indicate by 31 January 2010 whether they agreed with it. The Accord did not address the concerns of the Association Of Small Island States (AOSIS) which the Cook Islands adopted. At the next COP number 16 in Mexico in December 2010, there will be another opportunity to develop and adopt a legally binding document by consensus.
Our Foreign Affairs Ministry has also advised China of our position. Nauru has adopted a similar stance to the Cook Islands.
Our government will advise other larger nations and other Pacific nations of our position.
The Cook Islands is not impressed that in regard to funding, the Pacific nations have been grouped with African nations. This makes it virtually impossible for the smaller Pacific nations to compete with Africa for limited resources. Our uniqueness has not been recognised.
A priority for our country is enhanced action on adaptation which is not reflected in the Accord. The Accord links adaptation to the potential impacts of response measures. This linkage is one of the main reasons developed nations are unwilling to fund adaptation. It is the AOSIS view that the potential impacts of response measures have to be addressed as part of mitigation and not adaptation.
Our government has informed Japan that the Cook Islands looks forward to working with Japan to develop better outcomes at the next COP, that can be ratified and be legally binding.
