Secretary-General's press encounter at UN Climate Change Conference

SG: As you know, for the last three days I have been working very hard with the world leaders to help this negotiation proceed. Unfortunately, the negotiation has been going very slowly, but even at this time, the negotiation is still going on. This is one of the most complex and complicated and most difficult processes that you may imagine, but I have not seen anything that indicates that we cannot seal the deal in Copenhagen.

I believe we can seal the deal, still, in Copenhagen. There are major players here; all the major players are here. All the major actors have made important mitigation commitments and all the important financial elements are on the table. And all the world leaders are here.

There are more than 130 world leaders gathered here: If they can't seal the deal, who can?

We have only 24 hours left. I urge all the leaders to exercise their political leadership based on common sense, compromise and courage. All the people around the world are watching us. The [leaders] have political and moral imperatives and responsibilities to work for the future of humanity and to work for the planet earth, and I urge again strongly that the leaders, that they should take action.

Now is the time. We do not have any more time to waste. Thank you very much.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Secretary Clinton, today, said the U.S. would contribute to a global fund of $100 billion, to help poor countries deal with climate change. How has this impacted the negotiations?

SG: That is very encouraging and I am sure it will have a very important political dynamic in our current negotiations. I have been urging, as you may remember, that in addition to $10 billion annually up to 2012, the leaders should state their firm pledges for mid- and long-term financial commitment.

I have been urging to state an initial formulation of financial support packages and burden sharing formula and also the magnitude of this financial support. Now the idea of $100 billion is on the table. This is a significant amount - $10 billion until 2012 and $100 billion until 2020 and beyond - that will help developing countries mitigate and adapt to the consequences coming from climate change. Now many countries have come out, from both developed and developing countries?.Of course in total aggregate terms, their commitments have not yet reached the scale of what science has recommended. However, we have to build up and this is quite [an] encouraging statement [from a] developed country.

I sincerely hope we will be able to seal the deal by the end of tomorrow.

We have to have a deal.