LOC23:43
20:43 GMT
DOHA, Dec 4 (KUNA) -- Speakers at the ongoing high-level segment of the
18th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-18) voiced hope that the
gathering will chart a road map for curbing the climate change.
Addressing the opening meeting of the high-level talks, Executive Secretary
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Christiana Figueres said the negotiators of the state parties have made a good
progress in addressing the topics on the agenda.
"Over the course of the past eight days - with perseverance, your delegates
have addressed the difficult issues faced by this conference. Much progress
has been made, but now it is time for you to bring solidarity and
determination," she said.
"The eyes of the world are upon us. The urgency of the science is upon us.
The need for decisive ambition is upon us.
"The outcomes of this conference must change the face of long-term global
adaptation and mitigation responses and chart the course of the coming years,"
Figueres stressed.
"Doha needs to ensure that; there is agreement on an amendment to the Kyoto
Protocol; there is a clear path forward on climate finance; there is an
effective review of the long-term goal of staying below two C; there is an
urgent response to the widening emissions gap; and there is a firm foundation
laid for a long-term framework that is applicable to all, equitably instituted
and responsive to science.
"Coming from all corners of the world, you gather today under the Sidra
tree, your unequivocal guidance is needed to transform this symbol of
perseverance, solidarity and determination into authoritative action.
"This will happen only if you work with purposeful perseverance, show true
solidarity and demonstrate determination to act with ambition and urgency.
"Present and future generations are counting on you," the executive
secretary concluded.
In a similar speech to the gathering, Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for
Climate Action voiced hope that the Doha conference will serve as a bridge for
better future for the world.
"As we meet here in Doha, the world around us echoes with alarm and
despair- alarm over the pace of change in the nature around us and despair
over the lack of pace when it comes to agreeing on global political solution,"
she regretted.
"We all know that we cannot solve everything here in Doha, but, Ladies and
Gentlemen, Let's show the world that Doha too can deliver new steps forward.
Let's show the world a reinforced resolve to more forward together," Hedegaard
went on.
"The European Union wants this to be the COP where we cross the bridge from
the old system with two tracks to new system to a new system with one track. A
new system where all nations commit and contribute, consistent with the
convention, yet dynamic enough to reflect the world in the decades ahead of us,
" she said.
"We are running out of time. My plea is this Let us not get caught up with
formality - Let us deal with reality. The reality is that we need to speed up
to keep below the two degrees - The reality is also that Europe has delivered.
We have delivered on finance in spite of historic hardship. We have made
unmatched emission reductions that will take us beyond our 20 percent
reduction target by 2020," she added.
Meanwhile, speaking on Behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Algerian
Minister of Land Planning, Environment and City Amara Benyounes said the world
is facing the challenge of how to find mutually-acceptable solutions to the
degenerating climate.
"The phenomenon of climate change has reached a serious turning point which
requires that the conferees here work urgently to curb this change," he said.
The G-77 and China pin high hopes that the Doha conference will send a
reassuring message to the international community about resolve to prevent the
adverse impacts of climate change," Benyounes noted, voicing hope that the
developed countries will play a leading role in this regard. (pickup previous)
mi.gb
KUNA 042343 Dec 12NNNN