Statement by the President at “The Lima COP20 outcome and the road to COP21 in Paris” Member State Briefing

New York – February 23, 2015

Excellencies,
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to attend this briefing and thank the Governments of Peru and France for their continued leadership on this critically important issue.

We are meeting today following the successful 20th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Lima, last December.

Indeed, the constructive spirit that prevailed in Peru was critical in reaching agreement on the “Lima Call for Climate Action”, which paves the way for a new, ambitious and universally-binding climate agreement to be adopted at COP21 in Paris.

The spirit of Lima contributed to the further progress made in the negotiations during the recent Geneva Climate Change Conference, where Parties were able to deliver a comprehensive and balanced text. This formal negotiating document contains the views, concerns and positions of all Parties and enjoys the support of all countries.

Parties must now build on the positive, transparent and constructive spirit that prevailed in Lima and Geneva to reach consensus on both the content and the legal nature of the final agreement. To successfully reach this objective, strong and sustained political will is of vital necessity.

Esteemed Colleagues,

As you well know, climate change is one of the key priorities for the 69th Session of the General Assembly; a session which is also striving to shape the contours of the post-2015 development agenda, financing for development, as well as a new global framework on disaster reduction. It is essential to ensure that these negotiations are mutually reinforcing.

The preparations for the high-level event on climate change, that I am convening on 29th June, are moving forward. The concept note of the event was circulated to Member States last week and the provisional programme, as well as other relevant information, will be shared in due time.

The event is designed to ensure the necessary focus and momentum are maintained as negotiations progress. The event will allow participants to exchange views, share experiences and take stock of the progress made ahead of the Paris meeting. Engagement from all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, will be strongly encouraged.

I encourage Member States to participate in this event at the highest political level to convey a strong message on the critical importance of the negotiation process. The international community must demonstrate its commitment toward delivering a final agreement in Paris that improves lives, promotes achievement of sustainable development, protects the environment and preserves our planet’s integrity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we make the final push toward Paris, it is abundantly clear that expectations are high. The world is watching with great anticipation to see how we respond to this historic opportunity to shape the future of our planet. Addressing climate change will take courage and commitment on the part of this generation of world leaders.

Let us not disappoint.

Thank you for your attention.