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STATEMENT BY
GLOBAL CLIMATE COALIIBN
Cmzrwnk by ] a h Shiues, Ex~cutiveDirector, Global Climate Coalition, issued in Gmma, Sw'tzerlmd, af the
tifth session ofintwunational cliniate change t i e p f i a f i o m by ;he Ad Hoc Grmp om the Berlifi Mandate:

Discussions during t h round of negoliations have featurcd the growing concerns among bolh
devcloped and dc-vclopingnations about the ncgative ecom)rn.icmpacts of proposaIs to conslriiin basic
energy use.
There is a wider recognition of the fallacy of cxcluding dwcloping:ccnmtriewhere the bulk of future
emissions wilI ori@iiat+lrom mqu.irementstn mamge p e d o u s e gas cmissiom. Nonetheless,
devcloping countrics continued to assert udtt~nantlytheir nppositim to requirements to resbuin
emissions. Unless all. parliee am fully engabvd, the oft-shtcd goals of this process can't he realized.
Them is increasing awarenees and a cerlaia degree of disquiet among many developing world
repsentslives that thcir economies would be harmed if restrictions 011energy consumptinn were
impascd on the industribzed countries. It is in nn one's interest to impedc economic growth in
developing counhes, whsre the path to prosperity is often h e path toward health and welfare
imp0 vemcnts.

Many dcvelnped nations realize thnt a "one s i u fits all" approach c m t succeed. Stzch UTI approach
complctcly ignores thc many structural UertmC+lsin the industrial economiw, as the US. negoliutors
made dcar in arguing the need for flexibhty.
It is essential that this process prnceed in a manner that optimizes long-tcm. economic dcvelopmcnt and
growth potential in the cowsc of addrewing r~vironmentolconcern, 80 that we all can honor our
vbliptions Lo future gcnprations. Enhanced e~uiiomicprospects equate to enhanced opportuattes fur
our children-pportunities lor better educations, better envjrcmmant, and better quality of life.
The Global Climate Coalition, -resenting businesses and indtmkties that would be required to
implement any commitments that are mude by governmcntsin these pmseedings, r e c o m e s that
potenld climotc change merits serious considerationend eraminabon.The GCC believes thal; the
prudent course n f action to address pobntinl climate chcmLqr w 9 incorporate these elemcnh:

4

Commitrnmt to conlinuiug policy-relevantresearch tn reduce ilnccrtainties h Lhc knowledge Lase
of global c h a l e hll1ge;
Support for voluntary program? to m m g e GHGs;
Expansion or e f h t s to develop and diffuse energy efficient technologies;a d
Commiment to lenet-cost, optimal pathways Lo GI-I'G managemcmt mflsctmg spatial and temporal
hxibili ty.

Decembcr 12,1996