Speech
Plenary at the COP15 climate change conference, Copenhagen 18 December 2009
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister

Speech by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at COP15 in Copenhagen

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Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all - let me remind you why we are here. It's to reach an agreement that meets the two degree target.

An agreement that points out how to meet it. And that is fair and just.

A global threat needs a global response.

The importance of this Conference cannot be emphasized enough.

This is a decisive meeting. Not only for Sweden. Not only for Europe. But for the world as a whole.

Ultimately - this meeting is about taking responsibility.

For the climate. For our earth. And for our future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Climate change has been on top of the European Union's agenda for a long time.

At the start we all had different ideas. We all had different objectives.

With twenty seven Member States - twenty seven interests - we had to discuss, argue and negotiate to find common grounds.

It was never easy. We all had to compromise. We all had to give and take.

But in the end we were able to agree. We agreed on a strong EU mandate to take a leading role in these negotiations.

We know that when countries unite they can make a difference.

A difference in negotiations. A difference for the climate.

* * *

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The European Union has made the most ambitious commitments to fight climate change.

We have decided to cut emissions by 20 per cent in legally binding targets. Regardless of what happens here in Copenhagen.

We are ready to increase this number to 30 percent. We want to be able to move to 30 percent, if other developed countries do comparable efforts. We need to achieve the two degree target together.

And we still hope and expect that other parties will show that kind of leadership here and now.

To show our commitment, the European Union has also put real money on the table.

Money for fast start financing in developing countries. In the next three years, we will contribute with 2.4 billion euros annually.

And we will take on a fair share of the medium term financing, where the global need will be around 100 billion euros by 2020.

The European Union is serious.

We do not want to talk only about process and procedures.

With our offer, the European Union has delivered on the two most crucial issues in these negotiations.

The time has come also for others to deliver.

* * *

Ladies and gentlemen,

If we are serious about getting an agreement here in Copenhagen, both Annex 1-countries and non Annex 1-countries must make more ambitious mitigation commitments. And when we say non Annex 1-countries we mean the more advanced developing countries.

The US and China account for almost half of the worlds emission.

They simply must do their part. If they don't, we will not be able to meet the two degree target.

Now - I look at the time and I realise that we have only hours left to take responsibility.

Let's get back to work.