Good morning, ladies and gentlemen; it is a great pleasure to see you.
I just wanted to say a few words about the ongoing climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. As you may know, I'm going to go to Copenhagen and open the high-level segment of this meeting on 15 December.
We've come a long way in just two years' time. But what we do now, over the next two weeks in Copenhagen, will determine how we fare. This will be crucially important for the future of humanity, and even for the planet Earth. Now we must sprint across the finish line.
I'm encouraged and I am optimistic. I expect a robust agreement at the Copenhagen summit meeting that will be effective immediately and include specific recommendations on mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology. This agreement will have an immediate operational effect as soon as it is agreed.
Copenhagen can and must be the turning point in the world's efforts to prevent runaway climate change and usher in a new era of green growth for all.
From all corners of the globe we see unprecedented momentum for a deal.
More than 100 Heads of State and Government, to be exact 105 as of now, including President Barack Obama of the United States, Premier Wen Jiabao of China and Prime Minister [Manmohan] Singh of India, all have said they will go to Copenhagen to provide their support for a global agreement.
Never have so many different nations of all size and economic status made so many firm pledges together.
We must seize this moment, and continue pushing for still higher ambition. We are united in purpose, and now is the time for action –united in action, and results. Thank you very much.
Questions and Answers
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, I will be honoured to join you in Copenhagen, but I would like to ask you, what constitutes, in your opinion, success? We all know we are not going to have a legally-binding agreement. What is your measure of success, and how much [of a] shadow has this email scandal thrown upon this event?
A: First of all, on this email scandal –the so-called 'Climategate' - I am not a scientist and I don't pretend to be one. I base my decisions on the best scientific evidence and information. As you know the IPCC –the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change –released their fourth assessment report in November 2007 in Barcelona, and that is what I did at that time. Nothing that has come out in the public as a result of the recent email hackings has cast doubt on the basic scientific message on climate change. And that message is quite clear –that climate change is happening much, much faster than we realised and we human beings are the primary cause.
And for the criteria of success, first of all, we have to have ambitious mid-term mitigation targets by the developed countries, where developing countries also should take nationally-appropriate mitigation actions - ambitious actions. That will be important. The second important element will be financial support by the developed countries to developing countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to this climate change impact. Now, we are having a convergence of opinions among the leading countries –both developing and developed - that we will agree on $10 billion in short term fast-track facilities for developing countries over three years until 2012. For mid- and longer-term financial support packages –that, we will continue to discuss in Copenhagen and beyond. Then, thirdly, there should be a very strong adaptation package for developing countries. And finally we need to agree on a global framework to manage and deploy all the resources. Those are the hallmarks of the substance of climate change. I am encouraged that negotiation is proceeding reasonably well with full participation and a sense of flexibility and compromise. When the leaders from all around the world gather on 17 and 18 December, I am sure that they will be united to take necessary action.
Q: Has Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, has he indicated to you –we've heard that you've spoken to him weekly by videoconference –he represents the African Union. Is the $10 billion enough? They threatened to walk out if not sufficient funds were committed. What's you stance on how that issue's going to play out?
SG: As you know I, together with Prime Minister [Lars Løkke] Rasmussen [of Denmark], have been engaging in weekly videoconferences with major stakeholders on climate change - particularly the representatives of the most vulnerable countries, including the African Union and small island developing countries. We are going to continue to do that, as we did in Trinidad and Tobago. Now the idea of short-term fast-track financial support is supported by developing countries. We had a very in-depth discussion on this issue during our Commonwealth summit meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. As you know the 53-Member State Commonwealth adopted a consensus declaration where this financial support –fast-track support –was agreed by all the Member States, including a provision that 10% of this $10 billion will be provided to small island developing countries. Thank you very much. I have to attend the Security Council. Thank you.
Q: Do you have a reaction to the Iraq bombings?
SG: I am very shocked, and I condemn in the strongest terms possible, this just unacceptable, horrendous terrorist bombing against civilians. This must be stopped, and my spokesperson will issue a formal statement on this. Thank you very much.