Speech
FN:s klimatmöte Cop 15 16 December 2009
Andreas Carlgren, Minister for the Environment

Speech by Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 15

Statement by Sweden on behalf of the European Union and its member states

Mr President, distinguished delegates. Speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

In my Swedish hometown, Stockholm, the first UN Conference on Human Environment was held in 1972. At the conference India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi raised the question: "Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?"

Mrs. Gandhi confronted the world with the fact that poverty is both major cause and consequence of environmental degradation.

The world has come a long way since 1972, but we have not been able to respond to that challenge. We can not tackle hunger, disease and poverty unless we also provide people with a healthy ecosystem where economies can grow. Hunger, disease and poverty will never be defeated in a world where global warming goes above 2 degrees Celsius.

Science is clear - global greenhouse gas emissions have to peak and decrease, promptly and decisively. This has to be done whilst lifting billions of people out of poverty.

Let us answer Mrs. Gandhi's question here in Copenhagen! Let our Copenhagen Agreement be not just about restrictions and constrains - but about sustainable development, green growth and possibilities!

The rich part of the world must take the lead. The developed countries are responsible for the vast majority of the past emissions. At the same time, the poorest people, who are the least to blame for the problems, are affected first and worst.

The developing countries must be enabled to take a shortcut to a sustainable and more equitable future in which development and emissions are decoupled. This offers a unique opportunity to take a significant leap forward to develop fossil-free economies that grow and flourish.

Let it be clear: the EU has come here to seal the deal! The Copenhagen summit must be more than just another checkpoint along the road. The breakthrough must happen here and now. Now is the time to give and take. Now is the time to stretch our commitment. Now is the time to show our courage to succeed. I turn to all of you and say: Let us not leave Copenhagen before we have reached an agreement that is ambitious, global and comprehensive.

First, the Copenhagen Agreement must be ambitious and enable us to stay well below 2 degrees of warming. EU has already binding legislation in place that will reduce emissions beyond 2020 and is prepared to reduce emissions by up to 95 percent by 2050 compared to 1990. The EU calls on other developed countries to make this objective part of our Copenhagen Agreement!

The EU recognizes the action already taken by some developing countries. But the world needs more. We will never succeed without important contributions from the emerging economies, which must reduce emissions significantly compared to business as usual.

There is no time to lose and all sources of emissions should be addressed. We need decisive action on REDD. Deforestation rates should be halved by 2020 and net deforestation should cease by 2030. The EU also calls for the Copenhagen Agreement to enable that fees collected from maritime transport and aviation can be used to finance measures in developing countries and particularly in the poorest countries. Such innovative financing will be crucial.

We know the science is evolving. The agreement needs to include a review clause that allows us to adjust the agreement in light of new scientific findings.

Second, our Copenhagen Agreement needs to provide for a substantial scaling up of financial support for developing countries. The incremental cost for developing country adaptation and mitigation is in the order of 100 billion Euro (145 billion dollar) per annum by 2020. A system should be established to provide long-term support to developing countries for reducing emissions, adaptation, technology cooperation and transfer.

The EU is willing to contribute its fair share. In addition, the private sector and carbon markets are central in the effort to raise capital.

Action can not wait until 2013. The EU is ready to commit to fast start funding with at least 7.2 billion Euro (10.6 billion dollar) for the years 2010 to 2012. The EU calls on developed countries to announce their fast start commitments and make them part of the agreement.

Third, the agreement needs to be global by encompassing all nations of the world, comprehensive by covering all Bali building blocks and balanced by being legally binding for all.

We fought hard to rescue the Kyoto protocol. We will do much better than our Kyoto target. We want an agreement building on all essentials of the Kyoto protocol. However, the Protocol alone cover less than a third of global emissions and will not be enough to win the battle against climate change. We must strive for an agreement that is comprehensive, more ambitious, with broader participation and legally binding for all.

Here in Copenhagen we want the key decisions that will lock in the substance of the agreement. A legally binding regime should follow as soon as possible preferably within six months.

EU, representing roughly a tenth of global emissions, is ready to adopt the target of 30 percent by 2020 in a global ambitious agreement. We use the conditional 30 percent reduction as a lever to bring others with us to raised ambitions. We will keep that pressure!

Here I turn to the United States and China. Together you are responsible for half of the global greenhouse gas emissions. You have different responsibilities and capabilities. From the United States we expect, as from all developed counties, a legally binding economy-wide commitment to reduce emissions. From China we expect binding actions. To both China and USA I say: Your ability to reduce emissions will be absolutely crucial. It is promising that you have come forward with your contributions in an international context. However, the world needs more and we are confident that you have the ability to deliver more. Let us be honest with each other: Together your ambitions to limit emissions will make or break the world's efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. Therefore I turn to you, as a friend and a committed partner, and I say: United States and China: unleash your full potential and thereby the world's efforts - make it possible for the world to stay below 2 degrees!

Let this be the place to take the decisive step to tackle the climate challenge. Let this be the time to steer towards a low-carbon growth and poverty eradication. Let this be the hall where we agree! Let us be able to look each other straight in the eyes and say: All in all, together we are citizens of this incredibly beautiful planet and therefore we have to make this together.