Ministers prepare for Bali climate change summit
Defra’s Ministers are preparing for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, which starts today.
Climate change is the greatest single challenge the world faces, and success or failure in tackling it now will be felt for generations.
The UK representatives will be heading to Bali hoping that the nations taking part will agree to start negotiations on a global climate deal to go beyond 2012 when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end.
Ministers hope to leave Bali with a roadmap that will lead to an agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009.
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be arriving in Bali for the second phase of the talks which will take place on 12 - 14 December. He said:
"In Bali, we need the world to agree to start negotiations on a global climate deal to take us beyond 2012. We want to leave with a roadmap that will take us to an agreement in 2009 -- and that roadmap must have a role for every country. The negotiation process must involve all nations -- with all the major economies firmly and actively involved in negotiating further action and commitments.
"These negotiations are going to be very tough. and there are no guarantees of success. But this is a global emergency, and the consequences of inaction are unthinkable. We are seeing encouraging signs from all over the world, and there's reason to be more optimistic than ever before -- but we can't afford to be complacent. Securing the Bali roadmap will take immense commitment and political will from all the governments of the world."
Phil Woolas, Minister for Climate Change and Environment has been keeping a 'Bali Diary' in the run up to the summit, and will continue to update it throughout negotiations. It provides an interesting insight into discussions as they happen.
Further information
Page published: 3 December 2007