Last year’s Copenhagen conference fell short of expectations. The main outcome of the conference – the Copenhagen Accord – is not legally binding and was not universally endorsed by nations.

The meeting in Bonn will focus on determining a way forward for climate change negotiations, with a view to reaching a successful agreement by the end of the year at the next climate summit in Cancun, Mexico.

“The resumed negotiations provide an opportunity to renew the world’s focus on creating a legally binding agreement on climate change”, says Mr Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology.

“The survival of small island developing states like Solomon Islands depends on it. We continue to hope that nations can work together to produce a deal that will safeguard the future of vulnerable people all over the world”.

To date, 116 countries representing over 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions have associated themselves with the Copenhagen Accord.

Of these, more than 70 nations have submitted targets or actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During the Third Enhanced Political Dialogue between Solomon Islands and the European Union that took place recently in Brussels, both parties agreed that climate change is one of the key issues in their strengthened dialogue.

Solomon Islands, represented by Prime Minister Hon. Dr Derek Sikua, and the European Union agreed to continue working together at United Nations climate change negotiations to achieve progress towards a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement.

Whilst in Bonn, Solomon Islands will be taking the opportunity to put into action the decision agreed between the two parties to join efforts to support Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries to assess the implications of the Copenhagen Accord.

Solomon Islands will be talking to Lesotho, the Chair of the 48 Least Developed Countries, and Grenada, the Chair of the 43 member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States, to organise with European Union support a meeting for these two groups so that they can discuss how the Copenhagen Accord will affect these countries that are so vulnerable to climate change.

“As Vice Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States and a key player in the Least Developed Countries negotiating block, Solomon Islands is well placed to organise this strategic meeting,” Mr Sore said.

While some promising gains were made during negotiations last year, Mr Sore says there is much more work to be done. “Solomon Islands will continue to fight for emission reductions that limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“We urge all member states to work towards a legally binding agreement that sees developed countries take responsibility for reducing their emissions, as well as commitments to funding for adaptation and reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries”.

The Solomon Islands delegation at the meeting will be led by Mr Sore and will also include the Director of the Climate Change Division, Mr Douglas Yee, Ambassador Collin Beck, Solomon Islands Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Chanel Iroi, Under Secretary / Technical Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology, Senior Climate Change Officer, Mr George Fugui and Mr Hudson Kauhiona is joining the team as an Observer.

Mr Kauhiona is currently on attachment with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.