Pre-COP 15 press briefing by UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer

At a pre-conference press briefing held in Copenhagen, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer called Copenhagen a turning point on the road to a safe climate future.

He referred to the almost daily announcements by countries of new targets or plans of action to cut emissions as simply unprecedented, and urged governments to give a strong and long-term response to the urgent challenge of climate change.

Governments must deliver fast and effective implementation on adaptation, technology and capacity-building for developing countries; ambitious commitments to cut and limit emissions, as well as both start-up funding and a long-term funding commitment; and a shared vision on a low-emissions future for all.

The Kyoto Protocol, he said, is the only legally binding instrument we have to address climate change, and the vast majority of countries want it to continue. They also want to build an approach under the Convention that encompasses the United States, and that allows for both immediate financing and the engagement of developing countries.