| | |  Editorials | Environmental 
Cancún 2010, New Era of Climate Change Agreements: Calderón
 Suzanne Stephens Waller - Presidencia de la República
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July 26, 2010
| | In the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, the Mexican president said that it is possible to change the course of events but that it is essential to act globally. | |
Kampala, Uganda - President Felipe Calderón urged African countries to adopt an agreement on the environment and climate change in Cancún, Mexico, where the 16th Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held, since there is a need to act urgently due to the current world situation regarding these issues.
During his second day of activities in Kampala, Uganda, in his participation in the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, the Mexican president said that it is possible to change the course of events but that it is essential to act globally, since this is a world issue.
“I am convinced that in Cancún, all countries will be able to make a key contribution to the fight against climate change. That is why I have come here to listen to you and to humbly ask for the support of African countries, since fighting the causes and effects of this problem, like many other problems on the international agenda, will not be able to be fully achieved or resolved without the presence of the nations in this great continent.
With political will and the force of the African nations, with their support and a pragmatic approach designed to ensure that we can and must begin immediately, Cancún 2010 could be the start of a new era of agreements on climate change and the environment. That is what our nations are expecting of us," he said.
Accompanied by the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, and the Environment, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, the President said that it is crucial for the most vulnerable countries to obtain sufficient support to be able to plant their adaptation and management strategies for risk reduction. It is also in the interest of all countries to undertake mitigation efforts on the basis of the principle of shared but different responsibilities.
"Without sacrificing our current levels of ambition for growth or combating poverty, and without sacrificing the central principles of the current regime, we must be pragmatic. The evidence shows that we must do more. Our respective obligations are different, but we all have responsibilities," he said.
President Calderón said the countries must give clear signs that they wish to act with the sense of urgency that the situation demands, "And thus prevent those who have postponed the fulfillment of their obligations from finding a pretext and managing to avoid the need to act immediately and finance actions against climate change.” |
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