COP18 (30/11/12) – Giza Gaspar Martins, Coordinator, Republic of Angola talks about the vulnerability of Angola to changes in weather patterns, arable lands and other climate change effects.

He says the country favours a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol but stress this must contain sufficient ambition to help further stabilise global emissions. He says that parties must respect the principles of the climate Convention of common but differentiated responsibilities. He says all parties know what these principles are and they all agreed to them.

He talks about how as Angola begins the process of rehabilitation after the country’s civil war, and begins building back their social and economic infrastructure they are embarking on a path that opts for clean technologies for their energy supply, agricultural production and other carbon intensive sectors.

He says that with the country producing two million barrels of oil a day most would expect their first choice of energy to be fossil fuels. He stresses that the country is embarking on an ambitious programme away from this but to do so they need the enabling international environment including adequate finance and technology transfer.