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| Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second left); Christiana Figueres (right), Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Laurent Fabius (second right), Minister for Foreign Affairs of France and President of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21) and Franois Hollande (right), President of France celebrate |
Following the adoption on 12 December 2015 of the new Paris Agreement on climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said government representatives made history today.
“The Paris Agreement is a monumental triumph for people and our planet,”
said Mr. Ban in a tweet, immediately following its adoption. “It sets
the stage for progress in ending poverty, strengthening peace and
ensuring a life of dignity and opportunity for all.”
Gaveling the Agreement with a green hammer, the French Foreign Minister
and President of COP21, Laurent Fabius, announced the historic news – a
moment greeted with loud applause and cheers, as the room stood up. Many
delegates hugged, while others had tears in their eyes.
For the first time today, 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
– pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and joined to take
common climate action. This followed two weeks of tireless negotiations
at the United Nations climate change conference (COP21).
The Paris Agreement
and the outcomes of COP21 cover all the crucial areas identified as
essential for a landmark conclusion: mitigation – reducing emissions
fast enough to achieve the temperature goal; a transparency system and
global stock-take – accounting for climate action; adaptation –
strengthening ability of countries to deal with climate impacts; loss
and damage – strengthening ability to recover from climate impacts; and
support – including finance, for nations to build clean, resilient
futures.
“In the face of an unprecedented challenge, you have demonstrated
unprecedented leadership,” the UN chief said taking the COP21 stage just
minutes later. “You have worked collaboratively to achieve something
that no one nation could achieve alone. This is a resounding success for
multilateralism.”
Recalling that he made climate change one of the defining priorities of
his tenure as Secretary-General, Mr. Ban said that most of all, he has
listened to people – the young, the poor and the vulnerable, including
indigenous peoples, from every corner of the globe.
“They seek protection from the perils of a warming planet, and the
opportunity to live in a safer, more bountiful world,” he underlined.
“They have demanded that world leaders act to safeguard their well-being
and that of generations to come.”
Turning to the agreement itself, the Secretary-General said negotiators
reached “solid results on all key points,” with an agreement that
demonstrates solidarity and “is ambitious, flexible, credible and
durable.”
“All countries have agreed to hold global temperature rise to well below
2 degrees Celsius. And recognizing the risk of grave consequences, you
have further agreed to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to
1.5 degrees,” he announced.
In addition, a review mechanism has been established whereby every five
years, beginning in 2018, Parties will regularly review what is needed
in line with science.
“Governments have agreed to binding, robust, transparent rules of the
road to ensure that all countries do what they have agreed across a
range of issues,” Mr. Ban added.
Meanwhile, highlighting the role of the private sector, the UN chief
said business leaders came to Paris in unprecedented numbers and that
“powerful” climate solutions are already available while many more are
to come.
“With these elements in place, markets now have the clear signal they
need to unleash the full force of human ingenuity and scale up
investments that will generate low-emissions, resilient growth,” he
said, adding that “what was once unthinkable has now become
unstoppable.”
“When historians look back on this day, they will say that global
cooperation to secure a future safe from climate change took a dramatic
new turn here in Paris,” Mr. Ban stated. “Today, we can look into the
eyes of our children and grandchildren, and we can finally say, tell
them that we have joined hands to bequeath a more habitable world to
them and to future generations.”
Ending his remarks, the UN chief said that all Parties should be proud
of the Paris Agreement and that “the work starts tomorrow.”
“For today, congratulations again on a job well done,” he concluded.
“Let us work together, with renewed commitment, to make this a better
world.”
Addressing the hundreds of delegates, Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, said “we did it in Paris.”
“We have made history together. It is an agreement of conviction. It is
an agreement of solidarity with the most vulnerable. It is an agreement
of long-term vision, for we have to turn this agreement into an engine
of safe growth,” she exclaimed.
Several other top UN officials joined the Secretary-General in welcoming
the new Agreement. This included the President of the UN General
Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft.
“Today's agreement signals nothing less than a renaissance for humankind
as we collectively embrace the global challenge of climate change and
endeavor to transition to a more sustainable way of living that respects
the needs of people and our planet,” Mr. Lykketoft said in a statement.
Echoing this message, the President of the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC), Oh Joon, said the world has reached a key milestone in
collective action for sustainable development.
“Bold action against climate change will contribute to poverty
reduction. The United Nations Economic and Social Council will take part
in follow-up efforts,” he added.
Earlier today, at a meeting of the Committee of Paris [Comité de Paris] –
the body which is overseeing the negotiations at COP21 – the UN chief
spoke alongside the President of France, François Hollande as well
Minister Fabius.
“The end is in sight. Let us now finish the job. The whole world is
watching. Billions of people are relying on your wisdom,” the
Secretary-General had told delegates.
In an emotional address during which he held back tears, Laurent Fabius
said the agreement “will serve meaningful causes, food safety and
security, public health, the fight against poverty and for essential
rights, and therefore peace.”
“People worldwide, our citizens, our children, wouldn't understand if we didn't adopt it and wouldn't forgive us,” he insisted.
“It is rare to be given the opportunity to change the world,” said
President François Hollande, wrapping up the meeting. “You have the
opportunity to do that"
Courtesy:United Nations News Centre
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