Copenhagen To Finalize Climate Treaty for Second Commitment Period

Governments set to seal ambitious international climate change deal in Copenhagen

(Copenhagen, 6 December 2009) – One day ahead of the historic UN Climate Change
Conference in Copenhagen, the UN’s top climate change official expressed confidence that the
meeting would deliver a comprehensive, ambitious and effective international climate change
deal.

Within two weeks from Monday, governments must give their adequate response to the
urgent challenge of climate change,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer. “Negotiators
now have the clearest signal ever from world leaders to craft solid proposals to implement rapid
action,” he added.

Referring to numerous emission reduction pledges that developing and developed
countries have made in the run-up to COP 15, the UN’s top climate change official said there was
unprecedented political momentum to clinch an ambitious deal in Copenhagen.

“Never in 17 years of climate negotiations have so many different nations made so many
firm pledges together,” he said. “So whilst there will be more steps on the road to a safe climate
future, Copenhagen is already a turning point in the international response to climate change.”

Yvo de Boer spoke of three layers of action that governments must agree to in the course
of the coming two weeks: fast and effective implementation of immediate action on climate
change; ambitious commitments to cut and limit emissions, including start-up funding and a
long-term funding commitment; and a long-term shared vision on a low-emissions future for all.

As of 2010, immediate action will need to begin on reducing emissions, adapting to the
inevitable effects of climate change, delivering adequate finance, technology, reducing emission
from deforestation in developing countries and capacity-building.

According to the UN’s top climate change official Yvo de Boer, developed countries will
need to provide fast-track funding on the order of at least 10 billion USD a year through 2012 to
enable developing countries to immediately plan and launch low emission growth and adaptation
strategies and to build internal capacity. At the same time, developed countries will need to
indicate how they intend to raise predictable and sustainable long-term financing and what their
longer-term commitments will be.