Welcoming Copenhagen Accord, Secretary-General Says It Marks

Significant Step towards First Truly Global Climate Pact

 

The following statement was issued yesterday by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the outcome of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the fifth meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.  He thanks the Government of Denmark for hosting the Conference and leading the negotiations to a successful conclusion with substantive outcomes.

The collected decisions of the parties fulfil in large part the benchmarks for success laid down at the September 2009 Summit on Climate Change at United Nations Headquarters.  The Secretary-General particularly appreciates the many Heads of State and Government who have demonstrated their global political leadership to make this deal possible.

Among the decisions of the Conference, the Copenhagen Accord marks a significant step forward in negotiations for the first truly global agreement that can limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support adaptation for the most vulnerable and help to establish a new era of environmentally sustainable growth.

Through the Accord, countries agreed to work towards a common, long-term goal to limit global temperature rise to below 2° Celsius.  Developed countries have committed to establish and implement targets for greenhouse gas emissions, and a number of developing countries, including major emerging economies, have agreed to implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions and communicate their efforts every two years.

Countries also agreed on the importance of acting to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and also agreed to provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable to cope with climate change.  To support these priorities, countries pledged up to $30 billion a year between 2010 and 2012, to be disbursed through a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund.  Countries also backed the goal of mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 for developing countries.

In the coming months, the Secretary-General will work with Member States to ensure that the commitments enshrined in the Copenhagen Accord can be converted into a global, legally binding treaty as soon as possible in 2010.

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For information media • not an official record