| | |  Editorials | Environmental | July 2009 
Declaration of Leaders at Forum of Main Economies on Energy and Climate
 Presidencia de la República
go to original
July 12, 2009
 |  | Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and we are determined to meet this challenge. |  | | |
L’Aquila, Italy - We, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Korea, the United States, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Russia, South Africa and the European Union, gathered at the Forum of the Main Economies on Energy and Climate Change at L’Aquila, Italy, on July 9 2009, and declared the following:
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. As the leaders of the world’s main economies, both developed and developing, we plan to respond firmly to this challenge, since we are convinced that climate change constitutes an obvious danger that requires an extraordinary global response, that the response must respect the priority of the economic and social development of developing countries and that the shift towards a low-carbon economy is an opportunity to promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, that the need for and deployment of manufacturing technologies in the field of clean energy and its use at the lowest possible cost are urgently required and that the response must include equal attention to mitigation and adaptation.
We confirmed the objective, provisions and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Recalling the Declaration of Major Economies, adopted in Toyako, Japan in July 2008 and bearing in mind the decisions made in Bali, Indonesia on December 2007, we decided to spare no effort to ensure that in Copenhagen, we would reach an agreement between ourselves and the other parties, to promote the implementation of the Convention.
Our vision of future cooperation regarding climate change, in accordance with equity and our shared but different responsibilities and our respective capacities, includes the following:
1. In keeping with the goal of the Convention and Science:
Our countries will undertake transparent mitigation actions that are nationally appropriate, subject to verifications, reports and applicable measurements and will prepare low-carbon growth plans. The developed countries among us will assume leadership through the rapid adoption of robust group and individual reductions in the medium term that are compatible with our respective, long-term ambitious objectives and will work together before Copenhagen to obtain a good result in this respect. The developing countries among us will soon assume actions whose predicted effects on emissions constitute a significant shift regarding the prevailing practice in the medium term, in the context of sustainable development, supported by financing, technology and capacity building. The point of inflection of world and national emissions must be achieved as soon as possible, while acknowledging the fact that the time limit for this point will be longer in developing countries, bearing in mind the fact that social and economic development and the eradication of poverty are the first and greatest priorities in developing countries and that low-carbon development is essential for sustainable development. We acknowledge the scientific point of view that the increase in the global temperature average above pre-industrial levels must not exceed 2ºC. In this respect and within the context of the ultimate aim of the Bali Convention and Plan of Action, we will work from now until Copenhagen, among ourselves and within the Convention, in order to identify a global aim for reducing global emissions substantially by 2050. The advances towards this global goal will be periodically analyzed, in view of the importance of having frequent, integral, accurate inventories.
We will take measures nationally and internationally, within the Convention, to reduce emissions from deforestation and the degradation of forests and to shore up forests' removal of greenhouse effect gas emissions, including developing countries through the provision of greater support for these goals.
2. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is essential. These effects are already beginning to emerge. Moreover, although greater mitigation efforts will reduce climate effects, even the most aggressive mitigation efforts will not eliminate the need for considerable adaptation, particularly in developing countries that will be disproportionately affected. There is a specific, immediate need to help the poorest and most vulnerable adapt to these effects. In addition to being the most highly affected, they have contributed least to the concentration of greenhouse effect gases in the atmosphere. It will be crucial to mobilize greater support, which must be based on need and include additional resources to the current financial assistance. We will work together to develop, disseminate and transfer, as appropriate technologies that promote adaptation efforts.
3. We are establishing a Global Alliance to promote low-carbon, climate-friendly manufacturing technologies. We will coordinate and significantly increase public sector investment in the research, development and demonstration of these technologies, in order to duplicate this type of investments by 2015, while acknowledging the importance of private investment, public-private alliances and international cooperation, including regional innovation centers. On the basis of best global political practices, we pledge to eliminate barriers, establish incentives, improve the development of capacities and implement appropriate measures for aggressive speeding up the deployment and transfer of key low carbon technologies, both new and existing ones, in keeping with national circumstances. We welcome the leadership of individual countries that will lead efforts among interested countries to promote actions in technologies such as energy efficiency, solar energy, intelligent networks, carbon capture, use and storage, advanced technology vehicles, highly efficient carbon technologies with fewer emissions, bioenergy and other clean energies. The leading countries will submit a report before November 15 2009 on plans of action and road maps and make recommendations to achieve greater progress. We will consider the ideas on suitable approaches and measures for promoting technology transfer, development and deployment.
4. The financial resources required for mitigation and adaptation must be urgently and substantially increased and must include the mobilization of resources to support developing countries. The financing to cope with climate change will come from multiple sources that will include both public and private funds and carbon markets. Additional investment must be mobilized to developing countries, among others, through the creation of incentives and the suppression of barriers to financing flows. Greater predictability of international support must be promoted. The financing of the actions supported must be measurable, reportable and verifiable. The experience of existing institutions must be taken advantage of and these institutions must work in an inclusive fashion and be more sensitive to the needs of developing countries. Financing applicable to the climate must complement efforts to promote development according to national priorities and may include approaches based on both programs and projects. The governance of the mechanisms that pay out resources must be transparent, fair, effective and efficient, in addition to reflecting a balanced representation. Accountability must be guaranteed in the use of resources. A mechanism must be created to match the various financing needs and resources and make use, where appropriate, of the expertise of public and private sectors. We agreed to continue considering proposals to establish international financing mechanisms, including Mexico's proposal for a Green Fund.
5. Our countries will continue working together in a constructive fashion to reinforce the world capacity to combat climate change, including through the Forum of the Main Economies on Energy and Climate Change. In particular, our countries will continue meeting until the end of this year to facilitate an agreement in Copenhagen. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us