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FSM Delegation to Kyoto Climate Change Conference

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): November 20, 1997 - President Jacob Nena, on November 6, 1997, informed Congress Speaker Jack Fritz that the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP3), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from December 1 to 10, 1997.

The FSM Delegation will be composed of Vice President Leo A. Falcam, Head of delegation and other members of delegation will include Mrs. Iris Falcam, Spouse of the Vice President and delegate; Ambassador to FSM Mission to the United Nations Masao Nakayama, First alternate head of delegation; Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of External Affairs Jeem Lippwe, Second alternate head of delegation; Delegate James Naich, Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the FSM to Japan; Delegate John Fritz, First Secretary FSM Mission to Japan; The Honorable Yosiwo P. George, Senator, FSM Congress, Delegate; Senator Isaac Figir, FSM Congress, Delegate; Senator John Petewon, FSM Congress, Delegate; Mr. James T. Stovall III, Minister, FSM Permanent Mission to UN, Delegate and Delegate Robert Hadley, Sustainable Development Council, FSM Office of Planning and Statistics, according to communication from the Department of External Affairs.

The conference is at the ministerial level, however, there is hope that the conference will be upgraded to a meeting of heads of government to highlight this important issue which are important to the FSM and politically sensitive, Nena said.

The Kyoto agreement will contain legally binding commitments by developed countries to reduce their emissions by around the year 2010 and members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) threatened by sea-level-rise, want to see a 20 percent reduction by the year 2005. The baseline for all these reductions would be the year 1990 emission level.

Other members may support a divergent target. While others who are willing to do their share feel that the targets should be equitable rather than fixed across the board, Nena explained.

Nena stated that the FSM should be steadfast in its position to attain a target for the year 2010. Because of the important role to be played by the Legislative Branch or Congress, Nena is inviting Congress to be represented on the FSM Delegation to the conference.