LOC21:12
18:12 GMT
DOHA, Dec 4 (KUNA) -- The high-level meetings of the 18th Session of the
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) or COP18 opened at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) here
Tuesday afternoon with Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani attending.
Welcoming the participants in his inaugural speech, the Qatari Amir called
on the conferees to develop "a comprehensive assessment of climate change when
dealing with the issue."
The Amir also called on them to look to the future when thinking about
today's challenges of climate change, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
He encouraged the developed countries to honor their commitments in terms
of providing support to the developing countries.
He also called for finding a solution that balances between the energy
needs of countries, and the necessity of reducing global warming.
In the meantime, the Amir stressed that facing the challenge of climate
change requires a political will and maintained that there was a long road
ahead, despite the progress made in the past.
He called upon the international community to cooperate to face climate
change, stressing meantime that a sense of common goal and destiny must be the
launching point of negotiations, and emphasized that reaching a practical
agreement was the responsibility of all.
"The State of Qatar's hosting this conference comes out of its
international responsibility, and out of the country's awareness of the
importance of addressing the climate change phenomena and controlling its
repercussions on all human beings," QNA quoted the Amir as saying.
"There is no doubt that this conference represents the unfolding of a new
phase in the history of humanity. The resolutions to be adopted by this
conference would determine what we will bequeath to future generations,"
Sheikh Hamad stressed.
"This conference is held amid unstable global conditions in terms of
security and economy apart from the various challenges and risks facing the
international community as a result of the climate change.
"The climate change phenomenon is one of the major challenges of this era.
It is a problem that's existing and worsening steadily and raising several
complex problems with intertwined economic, environmental and social
dimensions, especially in its relation to food security and water, where the
rate of desertification is increasing in many world countries and the
agricultural sector is deteriorating," he went on.
"It is no exaggeration to say that the climate change has its hazardous
impacts on all aspects of life both in the developed and developing countries,
while the latter bear the brunt of the damage caused by those repercussions.
"The negative effects of climate change are extremely grave on sustainable
development aspired by all peoples, and it would not be acceptable to reach
solutions for it at the expense of development.
"Therefore no country would be able to find a haven in the past theories of
isolationism because the causes of environmental damage have no borders and
the failure to address them collectively and seriously will expose all peoples
to danger" he pointed out.
"So we are required to deal with this phenomenon from a comprehensive
perspective. We have to be far-sighted in addressing this phenomenon at
present and face its challenges in the future without prejudice to the right
of all peoples to realizing their sustainable development," he added.
"Therefore, I call upon the developed countries to fulfill their
international obligations concerning extending assistance to developing
countries, as per the convention and I also call for reaching the right
equilibrium between the needs of countries and communities for energy on the
one hand and the requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the other.
Technology can play a part to achieve that, and we are ready in the State of
Qatar to contribute to this field, because we are partners on this planet,"
the Qatari Amir added.
"Addressing the climate change requires political will and continuous
regional and international cooperation. The road is still long,
notwithstanding the efforts exerted at all levels during the last period,
necessitates taking all possible measures to reach the aspired objectives and
results commensurate with the people s aspirations and catering for a future
in which international solidarity, justice and prosperity for all prevail.
"Despite variations in the circumstances among countries, today we are in
an urgent need for international cooperation, and confirming the credibility
of multilateral international action to counter climate change challenges.
"Therefore the negotiating process on climate change convention should
emanate from the sense of unity of purpose and destiny and seek a consensus on
the joint goals epitomizing the concept of interdependence and building on
what was agreed previously," he added.
The Qatari Amir expressed his confidence that the participants in COP18
will work on finding practical and flexible solutions over the coming days.
The meeting gathered, among others, His Highness the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and
President of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. (end)
mi.gb
KUNA 042112 Dec 12NNNN