Washington, DC

05 May 2016

Secretary-General's Joint Press Conference with Dr. Jim Kim, President of the World Bank; Ms. Ségolène Royal, President of COP21; and Mr. Stephen Catlin, Executive Deputy Chairman of the XL Group at Climate Action 2016 [Q&A Only]

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

Q: Carey Byron with City Scope. Mr. Secretary-General you spoke extensively this morning about the potential role that cities can take in furthering climate action in the coming years.

We also heard this morning about some of the significant barriers that cities and local authorities are facing in taking that action. I was wondering if you could offer some thoughts on specific actions that you would hope that national governments can take to facilitate that action and also whether you were looking to HABITAT III process to facilitate that process.

SG: That’s exactly why we are gathered in Washington D.C. under the title of Climate Action. We need everyone’s hands on deck. This is not only governments but also business communities and civil society.

We have asked and we are urging governments to, first of all, ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible so that it will enter into force -at the latest- by next year. We have very encouraging commitments by many countries.

Sixteen [fifteen] countries have already ratified on the very day, first day, of signature. Then we have received from the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Democratic Republic of the Congo and many countries, at least 20 countries, who are now committed to ratify, join, accede, accept this agreement by the end of this year.

We will have to have 55 countries [to ratify] and 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Now, it’s not only governments, we ask governors and mayors and local community leaders to take charge of this implementation process. In the end, after all, it is mayors and cities who have to take all this necessary actions. When President and Prime Ministers are committed to this political level then we expect that they will do their own.

Now growing numbers are joining compact of mayors which now covers around 500 cities around the world, covering more than 400 million people - this is quite encouraging. We will hear how states, regions and provinces are rising to the climate challenge.

We also, of course, want civil society and business communities. Business communities now understand that the best future of their own business operations depends upon how we can transition from fossil fuel based operations into a low carbon economy. Now people understand it is beneficial, it is inevitable and it is already happening in a huge trend.

We also expect civil society leaders to raise their voices so that governments and cities and business communities will be accountable and transparent way and far reaching vision-based way. We really hope that government business communities and civil society form a strong partnership.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, my name is Gregorio Meraz, I am a correspondent from Televisa from Mexico. As you may know is living in an emergency due to environmental conditions. They have been trying to control by limiting the circulation of vehicles but have not accomplished as much as needed. Do you think the right way to control this situation could be to apply more strict measures that limit more the number of vehicles circulating and maybe some other measures to reduce the emissions?

SG: I am very much encouraged that the Mexican President and the Mexican delegation have committed to ratify this agreement by the end of this year, and that is a very strong commitment.

A few years ago when people went to Mexico City you see how the situation was at that time. People could not see because of these deep greenhouse emissions.

Now they are making great strides and [showing] strong commitment. With all this international commitment worldwide, I hope that the Mexican Government under the leadership of President [Enrique Peña] Nieto will really make huge strides. Mexico is one of the big emitting countries, their participation and ratification and early entry into force will give a big message.

I count on Mexico’s continuing commitment.