Secretary-General's press conference on climate change [unofficial transcript]

You have just heard my address to the delegates, so I will be very brief.

The chair of the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, is about to present the panel's synthesis report. And the message it contains could not be simpler: the threat of climate change is real and there are concrete and affordable ways to deal with it.

The report gives all of us, policy makers, civil society, the media and the general public the most comprehensive scientific information on climate change in a succinct and user friendly manner.

With the IPCC's latest work, the stage is now set for the United Nations Climate Change conference which gets underway in two weeks in Bali, Indonesia. This conference is so very critical. It is in Bali that governments will have to provide political solutions to what are now well established scientific facts.

The breakthrough needed in Bali is an agreement to launch negotiations for a comprehensive climate change deal that all nations can embrace - developed and developing [countries] alike. Scientists have now done their work and I call on political leaders to do theirs and agree not only to launch negotiations but also to conclude them by 2009.

Having just witnessed with my own eyes a few days ago in Antarctica and in the Amazon rain forest the effects of a changing climate, I can tell you with assurance that global, sweeping, concerted action is needed now. There is no time to waste.

Before turning the floor over to Dr. Pachauri I want to pay tribute to him and to the thousands of scientists and staff who have worked so tirelessly over the years to help all of us understand and grasp the severity of the climate change phenomenon. The IPCC's diligent work is the key building block in our efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC is a testament to this.

Also with me here are Michel Jarraud, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization and Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. These two organizations and their leaders have played an important role in creating the IPCC and in supporting and disseminating their work.

Before taking your questions, we all need to thank the Spanish government and the autonomous government of Valencia for their warm hospitality. This stunning Museum of Science is a fitting place to have held these crucial discussions.

Thank you very much and I will now turn the proceedings over to Dr. Pachauri. Thank you.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: I think by this time, the scientists have determined in one voice unequivocally the very quickening pace of the global warming phenomenon. As you said, I have witnessed it with my own eyes while visiting Antarctica. While I was able to appreciate such a wonderful and very rare landscape, I was very alarmed. It was very disturbing for me personally, to see all this quickening process of melting icebergs. This was really frightening to me.

From the Antarctica, I sent a message that this is an early warning from the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Climate Change. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary, as I have repeatedly said and many people have emphasized, we need global action to be taken right now. I'm again urging that now [we] need political answers from the political leaders around the world.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: I think this report is a remarkable achievement. I'm especially pleased by the summary document which was explained by Dr. Pachauri. The content is very clear and concise. It should make it clear for policy makers to understand and use this overwhelming scientific evidence to inform the decision-making process. Personally, again, I'm very much amazed by the unified voice of the Governments and scientists on this matter. I understand that there must have been some very active debate on the terms and characterizations of some of the elements of this report but finally all the scientists have been able to agree on very professional and scientific terms. This is not a political report, this is a scientific report. At the same time, I would hope that scientists will continue to develop their research and findings and assessments as time goes by. You may see that some differences or improvement from the previous assessment report, but this is what scientists will continue to do. But at the same time, at the political level, it is up to the governments who will take all these options reflecting their national initiatives and Government policies and which will be integrated into a UNFCCC negotiation starting from Bali this month.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: Basically, I'm an optimistic man, an optimistic man in every sense. I'd like to be optimistic in all our common endeavours. So far, I have been encouraged by the level of political will of leaders around the world. When I convened a high-level event on September 24th, I was very much encouraged by such a strong participation at the highest level as well as the demonstrated political will. However, I know that this will be a long and very difficult process. Therefore, whenever opportunity arises, I've been urging that the leaders should address this issue [with] firm determined political will. Without political will, we may not be able to agree within a very limited time frame by 2009. I will try to continue to galvanize political will and sustain that political will until we will be able to agree on a final framework which will succeed the Kyoto Protocol before 2012. I'm convinced that by this time with the release of this Fourth Assessment report, and with all the scientists speaking unequivocally in a same voice, the awareness of the international community has been heightened.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: This is sustaining moment. That's very good for policy-makers, like myself, as Secretary-General. There are some significant work done by scientists, but how to utilize these findings and assessments in political or diplomatic negotiations? That will be the job of the policy-makers, and the Secretary-General and other policy-makers. Now, the United Nations General Assembly is considering having a thematic debate on this Climate Change issue again, right after the Bali meeting. That will provide us with a good momentum to reflect and to think about a strategic way forward. I was told by Dr. Pachauri that IPCC is now going to organize a Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi next year, in February. That will also provide a good opportunity for the international community to talk about all these climate change issues. I am going to continuously engage in this process.

Q: [inaudible]

SG: If I may add, because I've been hearing from many people that what about China and the United States in these negotiation programmes, and negotiation process. I think that it is quite a natural question from all of us. I think basically, I have high expectations of all countries, especially those that are in a position to lead in this very important process. More action on climate change is necessary by all. As I stated on many occasions, this is a common endeavour which, regardless of where one is coming from, either developing or developed countries. But on the principles of common but differentiated ways, approaches, now I welcome the recent US initiative on climate change and the commitment of President Bush to feed any progress which they will take in individual and national level initiatives to feed into UNFCCC. He made it quite clear to me that all initiatives and measures should be incorporated into the United Nations. That is very encouraging. I also welcome China's national action plan to limit emissions. This is, again, encouraging. I urge the Chinese and Indian Government leaders to continue to deal with national measures. I look forward to seeing the United States and China playing a more constructive role in the coming negotiations on future international cooperation on Climate Change, starting from the Bali conference. Both countries, I think, can and should lead, each in its own way. Thank you very much.