| Speech
for Opening of Joint High-level Segment
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President,
UN Climate Change Conference
07/12/2005 - We are entering the final
stretch of our Montreal 2005 marathon and its good
to have the energetic new world team of ministers here,
to take us to the finish line.
Welcome to Montreal.
In my opening remarks last week, I characterized the objectives
of this conference as the three Is implementing the
Kyoto Protocol; improving the Protocol and the Convention;
and innovating for the future.
From what I have seen and heard so far, it is heartening
to see how these three goals have been fully embraced
by the Parties to this Conference.
I have seen the hard work, good will, and active listening
that delegates have shown in advancing these three objectives
over the last nine days continuing the cooperative efforts
that had been ongoing for months, indeed years before
this Conference.
Let us recap what we have achieved so far.
We started well on the first I, implementing the Kyoto
Protocol, with the adoption of the decisions in the Marrakech
Accord.
Adopting these Marrakech decisions culminates years of
effort, and their approval paves the way for fully implementing
the Kyoto Protocol.
Let us celebrate the coming to life of the first binding
global agreement to combat climate change!
But let us not forget that now we need to adopt the compliance
procedures to complete the Marrakech Accord.
We are now making real progress on the second I, improving
the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. Our accomplishments
here in Montreal will be a milestone.
Think of the crucial issue of adaptation to climate change:
here in Montreal, we are assembling a significant package
of initiatives on adaptation, giving this important issue
the attention it demands.
We are also working collectively to strengthen the Clean
Development Mechanism a unique market-based instrument
that will be a source of investment and technology transfer
for developing countries.
To this end, we must provide this Kyoto instrument with
the resources and professional capacity required for it
to be effective.
This brings me to the final I innovating for the future.
There is an urgent need to send a signal to the world
about the future.
Under article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol, Annex 1 countries
have to initiate meaningful discussions on new commitments
for post-2012.
I said this many times, I am repeating it again : Montreal
2005 must demonstrate a strong commitment to article 3.9.
.
But we know that action under Article 3.9 is only part
of the solution.
Many parties told me that to improve our collective action,
we also need an open and innovative process that includes
all the parties to the Convention. By initiating discussions
and brainstorming we can narrow the huge, worrisome gap
between what science dictates and what we are able to
accomplish with our good intentions.
I have tabled a draft CoP decision and discussions have
been frank and productive.
Success on the third I, will require much work and strong
political leadership.
I appeal to your sense of duty and public dedication.
In the end, there is no victory in winning a negotiation
point if we all lose in the fight to combat climate change.
Yesterday I was honoured to participate in the Arctic
Day events. We need to pay close attention to the knowledge
and concerns of those who are experiencing the current
impacts of climate change for their dilemma will be
our dilemma in the months, years and decades ahead. No
country is immune to the future impacts of climate change.
The world is looking to us for action. I believe we are
close to agreement. So let us finish our marathon.
Let us put together a winning combination that will strengthen
the Kyoto Protocol and the implementation of the Convention;
that will start the process for the second phase of Kyoto
on a good footing; and that will include a decision to
continue discussions on long-term cooperative action to
address climate change.
It is our duty to ourselves and to future generations.
Mais que serait la raison sans les mots du coeur?
Laissons-nous maintenant emporter
par le rythme de la beauté du monde
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