Yvo de Boer briefs the press on expectations for the copenhagen climate change conference

In a briefing to the press less than two weeks ahead of the historic UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP 15), UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer spoke about his expectations for the meeting, which he described as a historic turning point.

In particular, a successful outcome in Copenhagen requires ambitious emissions targets from industrialized countries, as well as stable and predictable finance to support mitigation and adaptation actions by developing countries - with USD 10 billion a year up to 2013 needed to kick-start immediate action.

Success in Copenhagen, he said, can put the world on a low-emissions growth path and ensure that poor and vulnerable nations are in a position to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Underlining that there is no time to lose, and that the stakes are too high for political self-interest, Mr. de Boer called on countries to work in a spirit of cooperation and compromise to seal the deal in Copenhagen.