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High-level Event on Climate Change - Panel 1
The first panel discussion, on “Mobilizing political momentum for ambitious actions on mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation”, comprised two segments, the first of which was moderated by Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who said people around the world were listening for signs of hope and action from the deliberations.
Ahmed Djoghlaf, co-chair of the Ad-hoc Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, also speaking for his colleague, Daniel Reifsnyder, said a new and ambitious strategy to win the climate war depended on the collective will and action of the international community. “The clock is ticking and time is of essence,” he said, calling for productive use of the weeks before the Paris conference.
The panellists for the first segment were Izabella Monica Vieira Teixeira, Minister of Environment of Brazil; Dr. Khaled Fahmy, Minister for Environment of Egypt and President of the African Ministers Conference on Environment; Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister for Environment and Energy of Maldives; Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative on Climate Change of China; and Miguel Arias Canete, Commissioner of the European Union in charge of Energy and Climate Change.
Ms. Teixeira stressed the need for fair, inclusive and equitable agreement to enable movement towards a new paradigm for development based on a low-emissions framework. Differentiation was a crucial element where each party could offer a fair contribution towards sustainable development.
Dr. Fahmy said Africans going to Paris were not looking for a rewriting of the UNFCCC, but its operationalization in such areas as adaptation, mitigation, transfer of technology and resources. Adaptation was an essential priority for Africa, the cost of which could hit $100 billion a year by 2050, he said, calling for a global partnership on renewable energy development.
Mr. Ibrahim, stressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States like Maldives, said the first step towards building political momentum was to scale up action now, not some time in the future. All countries must fulfil their commitments and establish clear benchmarks for financing, while exploring new opportunities to support action in critical sectors.
Mr. Xie urged all parties to strengthen their participation based on commitments to achieving green low-carbon development, thereby bringing about a win-win situation. China had integrated green development into its national strategy and would make determined efforts to undertake its international responsibilities based on national realties and capabilities.
Mr. Canete said the immediate priority was to demonstrate a global resolve to ensure that Paris would be a turning point in addressing climate change. Although the process may seem slow, demonstration of strong political will would help achieve results. The European Union believed the agreement, to be successful, should be dynamic and oriented towards the longer term.
Making statements after the panel discussion were the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands (on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States); the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland; the Minister for State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom; and the Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy of Portugal.
The Panel’s second segment was moderated by Felipe Calderón, former President of Mexico and Chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. The panellists were Edna Molewa, Minister for Environment of South Africa; Gabriel Vallejo, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia; Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister for Water and Environment of Uganda; Isabella Lovin, Minister in charge of International Development Cooperation of Sweden; and Trigg Talley, United States Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change.
Opening the discussion, Mr. Calderón said the next 15 years were a make-or-break period, adding that, new opportunities, if identified and implemented properly, could make the difference.
Ms. Molewa said no group was more interested in a rules-based regime than African countries. South Africa had embarked on an ambitious renewal energy programme, drawing investment from the private sector. Adaptation and mitigation efforts had begun to show results in anti-poverty efforts. South Africa was committed to achieving a fair and equitable agreement that assured adequate financing.
Mr. Vallejo said Colombia was finalizing its national commitment document, which would reflect its commitments and actions, and was awaiting signals from Paris on legally binding international goals. Such alignment of national and international action was the best guarantor of success, provided they were pursued in a transparent manner with regular follow-up.
Mr. Kamuntu said that, unless the international community took action now, climate change would continue pose a challenge for countless generations to come. Uganda had witnessed recurring landslides, retreating glaciers and droughts, prompting the Government to design and implement policies and programmes to make a greener and healthier country through the involvement of all stakeholders.
Ms. Lovin said none of the sustainable development goals would be achieved in a world ravaged by climate change. Therefore, the global discourse needed to rise above its narrow confines and proceed on recognition of that common reality. Money spent on polluting technologies of the past needed to be channelled towards renewable energy.
Mr. Talley said the United States had set ambitious and workable targets on reducing emissions and urged all states to submit their national commitment documents well before the Paris Conference. Adaptation, like mitigation, was a crucial element of the effort, which the Paris Conference needed to stress.
Making statements after the second segment of the morning panel discussion were the Minister for Environment of Luxembourg; the Minister for Forests, Environment and Natural Resources of Gabon; the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change of Malta; the Minister for Infrastructure and Environment of the Netherlands; the Minister for Environment and Tourism of Namibia; the Minister and Government Plenipotentiary for Climate Policy of Poland; the Minister for Environment of Latvia; and the Minister for Environment and Drainage of Barbados.
Opening the afternoon session ahead of the second panel, Robert Redford, actor and environmental campaigner, said: “Your mission is as simple as it is daunting — to save the world before it is too late.” He said ignorance was no longer an excuse for inaction. Two degrees was all it took to turn arable land into a desert and the window of opportunity was shrinking, he said, underlining that the time for “climate denial” was over. When leaders meet in Paris in December, the citizens of the world will be watching. “Look, this is it,” he said. “This is our only planet. This may be our last chance.”
