7 February 2010
Quote of the Day
Copenhagen was a breakdown, not pre-structured or undertaken in good faith."
Prof Jeffrey D Sachs
Quote of the Day
Empty promises of aid to poor countries that are not honoured have zero value."
Prof Jeffrey D Sachs
Quote of the Day
In our common efforts, we cannot start from zero."
HE Mr J R E Quesada
Quote of the Day
The role of civil society is to put the Junoon (passion) back into the battle against climate change."
Mr Carl Pope
Quote of the Day
The impacts of climate change have begun, and we have lost years and years of precious time due to irresponsible leaders."
Mr Bittu Sahgal
Quote of the Day
We, in the US, have no business to build coal-based power plants today."
Ms Anjali Jaiswal
Quote of the Day
We cannot continue with business as usual. We have a responsibility beyond our own timeline."
Prof Walter Erdelen
Quote of the Day
There is no need for despair - the message has gone to civil society on the need for action."
Mr Suman K Bery
Quote of the Day
We need books like 'Eco-footprint for Dummies' to teach us how to reduce our personal ecological footprints in our daily lives."
Mr Rick Mayo-Smith
Quote of the Day
We must practice what we preach."
Dr Ursula Schaefer-Preuss
Quote of the Day
We have to share the burden, otherwise we will share the consequences."
Mr John Kerry
Quote of the Day
We have not created the world, but we received it."
Rt Hon John Gummer
Quote of the Day
We are not taking about future but reality. We are already suffering, losing territory everyday and that our survival is threatened."
HE Ms M P E Lloyd
Quote of the Day
Copenhagen Accord was valuable but we must assist the multilateral process."
Mr Shyam Saran

Ministerial Session II - Why do we need a binding agreement?

The final day of DSDS 2010 commenced in style with a dynamic and unique ministerial session, which included a rare gathering of the current COP presidency in Denmark, the next COP presidency in Mexico, the current EU Presidency of Spain, in addition to representation from France, Italy and India. The session deliberated on the likelihood, nature and scope of a LBA (Legally Binding Agreement).

In his closing remarks, chairperson of the session Mr Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India summarized the discussions including the question-answer session, and raised three core issues that need to be addressed in the run up to Mexico - the mechanisms and methodologies towards compliance; drafting an LBA around the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’; and equity in the GHG flows.

Speakers

He stated that an LBA was essential not only for providing market certainty in order to mobilize private sector resources, but also for providing political certainty to catalyze governmental efforts.
 
He highlighted the specific nuances of why we need an LBA given that members are democratically bound through public opinion, scientifically bound by the seriousness of the issue, in addition to being economically bound to achieve a transition towards a low carbon economy.
 
She said that for any long-term project in a market-based economy, a LBA is crucial for it reduces uncertainty. In addition, she suggested that an effective strategy should perhaps also include a range of agreements at the regional and sectoral level.
HE Ms Lykke Friis Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark   HE Mr Brice Lalonde French Ambassador In Charge of International Negotiations on Climate Change, France   HE Ms Stefania Prestigiacomo Minister for Environment, Land and Sea, Italy


She pointed out various constraints within which global climate policy needs to be crafted, such as resources constraints, geographical contexts, scientific uncertainties, and so on. She proposed that an important driver for climate policy will be the involvement of Heads of State in order to achieve a high-level political agreement.
 
Representing the country that will have the next COP presidency, he emphasized that we must approach the process with a renewed sense of creativity in order to build upon the outcomes that we already have, and towards the outcomes that we want in terms of nature, content and scope. He identified transparency, efficiency, inclusiveness and the use of both formal and informal discussions as critical to the process that could deliver an LBA in Mexico.
   
HE Ms Teresa Ribera Rodriguez Secretaria de Estado de Cambio Climatico, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino, Madrid, Spain   HE Mr Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico      

Important links