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Angolan Parliament approves country's adhesion to the Kyoto Protocol
Luanda, Friday, 02 March 2007 - The National Assembly of Angola, also known as the Parliament, authorized, yesterday, Thursday, 01 March 2007, the Government to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the objective to join the growing international community in fighting against climate change.

The Angolan parliamentarians approved the adhesion unanimously, by 125 votes, following its careful analysis and consideration by the 1st, 3rd and 7th commissions of the Parliament, regarding implications for the country.

In his explanation to the parliamentarians, the Minister for Urban Planning and Environment, Eng. Diekumpuna Sita José, said the implementation will help to mobilise the country, with a view to improving and guaranteeing its integration in the protection of the climatic system, to the benefit of the present and future generations.

Dr. Maria De Fatima Jardim, former Minister for Fisheries and Environment, between 1998 and 2004 (today a Member of Parliament working at the 7th commission for environment issues and other), said the country is evidently vulnerable to the effects of the climate change and its adhesion to the Protocol expresses political commitment for climate change issues, particularly in a moment that the oil and gas industry of the country is projected to grow and sustain the National Reconstruction process in coming decades.

According to the MP, the Angolan government, following the deposit of the adhesion instrument at the United Nations Secretariat, is already planning to submit, under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the "Angola Liquefied Natural Gas" (LNG), a joint project involving the state oil company of Angola, Sonangol (22.8 percent), and partners including Chevron (36.4 percent), BP Angola (13.6 percent), ExxonMobil

(13.6 percent) and Total Angola (13.6 percent) aimed at facilitating offshore hydrocarbon developments while reducing gas flaring in Angola.

Angolan environmental NGOs, which have so long supported country's adhesion to the Kyoto Protocol, have already expressed their support for the Parliament's resolution. The Second Angolan Civil Society Forum on the Environment, held in Luanda, from 27-28 February 2007, declared the need for the country be prepared for the next steps for effective implementation of the Kyoto Protocol's provisions, by learning the experiences of other member states, as well as taking the opportunities offered by the Protocol.