The Swedish Ambassador's speech:
Your Royal Highness the Crown Princess, Right Honourable Prime Minister, Ministers, Honourable Members of Parliament, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,
As we gather here, the snow on Kilimanjaro is melting. The fish in the Indian Ocean are dying. The sea level is rising, threatening to swallow whole island nations, from the Maldives to the Marshall Islands. Every minute, the equivalent of 36 football fields of forestland are being stripped of trees, and droughts, floods and mudslides are damaging property and economic potential.
Climate change is one of the most important challenges we face today. If we do not meet this challenge, the impact on society will be devastating. Developed countries should take the lead and commit to considerable emission reductions in the short term. But to avoid dramatic consequences of climate change developing countries where the bulk of the emission growth takes place also need to act. Addressing climate change will require large investments in sustainable technologies, and the additional costs in developing countries could amount to 100 billion Euros annually by 2020. But if we do not act now, the cost will be much higher.
It is against this background I welcome all of you to today’s conference. The Swedish Presidency of the European Union is honoured and delighted to host this conference and we thank our partner UNEP and our collaborator ILEG for their excellent cooperation.
We are pleased to welcome so many prominent leaders and experts in the field. We have already heard Crown Princess Victoria, and we are looking forward to hearing from Prime Minister Odinga, Angela Cropper, the Deputy Executive Director of UNEP and Dr Wekeza, Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, as well as others with in-depth knowledge about different aspects of climate change.
As an expression of its commitment to find sustainable solutions to the climate crisis, the Swedish Government launched the international Commission on Climate Change and Development two years ago, chaired by our Minister for Development Cooperation. We will hear a presentation of its conclusions from one of its members – Angela Cropper – today.
As you know, the Swedish Presidency of the European Union has put Climate change at the very top of its agenda. We are now only 24 days away from the Copenhagen Climate Conference, and the EU Presidency is making every effort to facilitate a successful outcome. We want to achieve a global and comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen.
Concrete commitments on emissions reductions are crucial if we are to meet the target approved by the leading economies of Major Economies Forum (MEF) last July that the global warming ought not to exceed two degrees. The EU has already implemented legislation that will reduce emissions by 20 % by 2020. The EU is however committed to reduce its emissions by 30 % provided that other developed countries make comparable efforts and developing countries take on adequate action.
Action by the EU alone is not enough. Other developed countries must now step up their bids and show the same commitment. Developing countries, especially those that are more advanced, must also present clear plans for action that reflect their responsibility and ability and which lead to substantial emission reductions compared to business as usual and make them part of a Copenhagen agreement.
As the Swedish Prime Minister, and President of the EU, Fredrik Reinfeldt said last week: “The EU has placed its bid. Now others must follow suit”.
Climate change has an impact on every country, but Kenya is especially vulnerable. In Kenya, climate change has already led to irregular weather patterns and extreme incidents of rains and drought. Biodiversity in Africa is being altered as animals struggle to adapt.The scarcity of water in all of East Africa requires enhanced regional cooperation. Progress on reforms for good governance and sustainable development is essential.
As part of the European Union’s broad cooperation with Kenya, Sweden has, through Sida (Swedish International Development Agency) supported initiatives in the natural resources sectors. Our aim is to achieve sustainable growth that benefits the poor. Many of these initiatives are highly relevant to climate change, for example our support to the Kenya Water and Sanitation Programme to improve access to water in underserved regions, and to improve water resource management in Kenya.
The Kenyan Government has expressed its commitment to deal with climate change. This commitment is underscored by the participation today by Prime Minister Odinga and the announcement that the Kenyan Government soon will conclude its work on a Climate change response strategy. Later this afternoon we will hear Environment Secretary Alice Kaudia present the strategy for the first time to a broader audience. The Swedish Presidency of the European Union, UNEP and ILEG took the initiative to hold this conference today hoping to help enhance awareness of this challenge ahead of us. We hope we will all leave this conference room today with an increased understanding of the impacts that climate change and the climate change negotiating process has and will have on Kenya and its people. We also hope that we will leave sensitised on our individual and collective responsibilities in combating climate change and its impact. Looking at it positively, it creates opportunities for partnerships and investments.
Professor Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize laurate, is also member of the Commission on Climate Change and Development. Let me conclude by quoting her appeal to world leaders when they met at the UN Summit on Climate change in New York in September: “Will you seize this opportunity to Seal a Deal that is fair, that is ambitious and that is binding before it is too late? You have the power to turn this around. Please use that power in Copenhagen.”