Figueres calls for “continued momentum on climate change”

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference that is being held in Bangkok on 3-8 April 2011, the UN’s head climate change official – Ms Figueres – has called for the Government to give “continued momentum on climate change”. She has identified that this is needed in order to meet the timelines set at the Cancun conference in December of 2010.

Christiana Figueres has said “the world was at a crossroads in Cancun and took a step forward towards a climate-safe world. Now Governments must move purposefully down the path they have set, and that means maintaining momentum at Bangkok in order to take the next big climate step in Durban at the end of the year”. Ms Figueres is the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

The meeting due to take place in Thailand will be the first time the world’s governments will come together after the agreements they made in Cancun to discuss and continue forward with their objectives and proposals. The governments agreed to pursue a Green Climate Fund for international management, to deploy long-term funding for assisting developing countries, a Technology Mechanism to ensure clean and efficient technologies and an Adaptation Framework to boost and promote international co-operation with the adaptation of developing countries into greener environments. “Governments need to maintain momentum at Bangkok by agreeing to a clear work-plan for 2011 and by taking forward outstanding substantive work. This includes work on making the institutions for climate funding, technology cooperation and adaptation fully functional within the deadlines agreed in Cancun” Ms Figueres continued.

To date, progress on the Green Climate Fund has been made and will be implemented from the meeting in Mexico on 28-29 April 2011 and also with the Adaptation Committee which will be fully operational by 2012.

Ms Figueres has outlined that a significant group global effort is required to achieve the cap of a maximum 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise that the Governments agreed in Cancun. Each country needs to rapidly reduce their emissions if they are to meet the goal as promised. To date only 60% has been met of what experts say is required to meet the 2020 target of below two degrees rise barrier. Therefore included in the Bangkok meeting will be workshops on emission reduction plans and plans on assistance for developing countries.

“Taking forward issues from Cancun also means that Bangkok needs to address building strong mechanisms and possible market incentives that allow everyone to work together to cut emissions at a cheaper and faster rate” said Ms Figueres.