DEPUTY Prime Minister Ken Baugh is to head the Jamaican delegation to Copenhagen, Denmark for the United Nations climate change conference later this year the Office of the Prime Minister revealed Monday afternoon, signalling Government’s recognition of the crucial nature of the two weeks of negotiations.

The Copenhagen meeting is intended to arrive at a consensus among world leaders on a climate agreement to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

“The conference will be at the summit level and leaders from all over the world are expected to attend. At the recent Caricom Heads of Government meeting, it was agreed that the region (the Caribbean) would be represented at the highest level,” noted Prime Minister Bruce Golding in a written response to Environment Watch queries concerning the delegation to Copenhagen.

Golding noted the importance of having the island represented at the highest level at the conference, which denies anyone less than a head of state access to certain high-level sessions and voting rights during the deliberations.

In 2007, Jamaica – whose delegation to the UN climate talks in Bali, Indonesia was led by Aundre Franklyn, parliamentary secretary in the then Ministry of Health and Environment – found itself in just such a predicament.

Government is now apparently resolved to rectifying this.

“There is an urgent need for Jamaica and the Caricom region to address climate change, as the small island developing states and low-lying coastal states in the Caribbean are considered to be among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change,” Golding said.

“The talks in Copenhagen give us the opportunity to participate in the shaping of the decisions that determine how the issues of climate change will be addressed in the future in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; the implementation of a sustainable framework for assisting developing countries to adapt to climate change, the enabling environment to support the transfer of low carbon technologies to developing countries, as well as the provision of new, predictable and adequate resources of funding,” the PM added.

Golding noted that, included on his wish list for Copenhagen, is the emergence of an agreement to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“The most important outcome would be ambitious emission reduction targets in the short and long term for all developed countries and the major greenhouse gas-emitting developing countries,” he said. “This should be a total aggregate of 45 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020 and an 85 per cent reduction of 1990 levels by 2050.”

Added the PM: “Of particular importance will be discussions on the full operation of the Adaptation Fund to serve parties that are eligible for funding so that they can implement concrete, country-driven adaptation projects based on their needs.”

As to negotiations in the lead-up to Copenhagen, Golding said there was no question that there had been hitches. Still, he is hopeful for a meaningful agreement post-Copenhagen.

“I am aware that the negotiations have been difficult and there are several points of divergence between countries on targets in the new commitment period after 2012,” he said. “We would like to see an agreement emerging from the negotiations that will result in meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It is hoped that parties will be faithful to the Bali Action Plan on mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financing and that consensus can be built on these points.”

It is unclear who else will comprise the delegation to Copenhagen for which the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will provide funding for two people to participate.

Environmental interest groups and entities have welcomed news that Baugh is to attend the conference.

“It is a step in the right direction in that it is higher political representation in Copenhagen which is what we want,” said Indi McLymont Lafayette, regional director of media and environment with Panos Caribbean – managers of the Voices for Climate Change Project.

“But ideally I think the prime minister would have been best placed to be there for a number of reasons – in the interest of Caribbean unity since a couple of other prime ministers/presidents from the region are going, Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana for example; because it is such a critical issue and the decisions that will be taken there (warrant) the need for the highest representation. So ideally, I would still love if the PM would go, but it seems like we (as a country) are looking at it (climate change) more seriously.”

A participant in the Voices for Climate Change Project – designed to raise public awareness on climate change issues through players in the entertainment industry – said the decision to send Baugh to the conference was excellent news. “We are very happy about representation in the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs because we know it is crucial,” said the participant who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We have a lot of confidence in our technical people but we also recognise that it is very important to have high-level political representation at these fora, which is what gives you access to high-level meetings, and also raises the profile of the country as it shows your commitment to the issues that you are working at,” she added.