I am pleased to send greetings to the Opening Ceremony of the Headquarters of the Green Climate Fund.

I thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for its foresight in hosting this important multilateral facility agreed by countries at the 2010 Climate Change Conference in Cancun.

This Fund can make a significant contribution to our collective efforts to support mitigation, adaptation and resilience in developing countries.

Today’s opening of the secretariat -- combined with the advances by the Conference of Parties in Warsaw and progress on the Fund’s Business Model Framework -- are milestones in moving to full capitalization.

The imperative now is to bring the Fund into operation as soon as possible.

It will not be the only conduit for climate finance. 

But it will be an important element of a public-private framework that supports low-carbon investment and fair access to climate financing.

It can strengthen national ownership and enable countries to develop the necessary expertise and institutions for using climate finance effectively.

I hope the Fund will soon be able to deliver capital to reduce emissions, light rural clinics and schools, empower local farmers and support Governments and businesses to adopt low-emissions and climate-resilient options. 

I commend everyone involved for their commitment. 

I look forward to the earliest possible capitalization and functioning of the Green Climate Fund.

As we look to the crucial years of 2014 and 2015, let us all do our utmost to make the Fund a success in helping the world to meet the climate challenge.

Thank you.