We have now only 40 days until the negotiations start in Copenhagen. It is not much, but if all make an effort we will be able to seal the climate deal in Copenhagen. Climate change is a fact. We cannot ignore that human activity and the burning of fossil fuels carries a major responsibility for this. We have to act through a firm global response.
Denmark is preparing itself to be the host of one of the biggest international government conferences in our country’s history. We expect about 15000 participants in the conference.
Our objective is to conclude a new, ambitious global agreement on climate change that includes all countries of the world and which includes ambitious targets for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
Global emissions need to be reduced by up to 50 % by the middle of this century – compared to 1990 CO2 emission levels – if dangerous consequences of climate change should be avoided.
The Copenhagen climate change agreement should deal with 4 elements:
- First, how much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gasses?
- Second, how much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to limit their growth of their emissions?
- Third, how is the help needed by developing countries in reducing and adapting to climate change going to be financed?
- Fourth, how is the money spend going to be accounted for and verified?
This is the challenge we are facing at Copenhagen. I know that Jordan is broadly on the same line as we are – so we are looking forward to hosting this very important meeting. I have noticed that also Jordanian press have intensified its coverage of Climate Change during recent months, and I guess the next 40 days until we open the negotiations in Copenhagen will see an even more intensified coverage of this topic. The conference on the 8th of November at the Columbia University in Amman will be an occasion for the press to focus on the climate change issue.
