UNIS/INF/44
12 January 2005
Mauritius Conference Highlights: 11 January 2005
Climate Change Remains the Most Controversial Item on the Agenda
(Re-issued as received.)
PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, 11 January -- On the second day of the Mauritius International Meeting on Small Island Developing States, climate change remains the most controversial item on the agenda. Following several hours of discussions, mainly between small island developing states and oil-producing countries, the Group of 77 was able to agree on a new submission about climate change late Monday evening. Australia, the United States and the European Union also came up with their own respective texts, though the European text on climate is close to the one proposed by the G77. The main point of contention is the link between a reduction of CO2 emissions and the development of renewable energy. Following a major breakthrough in the negotiation on trade issues over the last three days, climate change remains the thorniest item at the Mauritius International Meeting. The Meeting will adopt a proactive strategy to further implement the Programme of Action approved a decade ago at a Global Conference in Barbados. A political declaration will also be adopted. The International Meeting is attended by some 2000 participants. 20 heads of States and governments, 35 ministers and the United Nations Secretary-General, who has arrived in Mauritius, will take part in the high-level segment of this International Meeting on Thursday and Friday.
WMO will help creating Tsumani Early Systems in the Indian Ocean
At a press conference in Mauritius the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Mr. Michel Jarraud, announced today that his organization was joining forces with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to ensure that Tsumani Early Systems will soon become a reality in the Indian Ocean, and also in other regions at risk. He stated that the global observing, forecasting and telecommunications systems, operated by WMO through its network of Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) proved to be highly effective for providing timely early warnings for a variety of natural hazards in many countries, especially during one of the most intense tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic and the Pacific regions in 2004. Mr. Jarraud added that the WMO Global Telecommunication System (GTS) that interconnects the NMHSs provides tremendous potential for timely and reliable exchange of tsumani warning messages. He indicated that this system also has the capability for collection and exchange of data, related bulletins and alerts, including seismic data.
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Press Contact: Nosh Nalavala, Media Officer, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Tel: (917) 367-2471, e-mail: nalavala@un.org Website: www.un.org/ohrlls
François Coutu, UN Department of Public Information, Development Section
Tel.: 230-286-0567 (in Mauritius) E-mail: mediainfo@un.org
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