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"We would like the 'D' in Durban to be a 'D' for decisions and delivery" - Connie Hedegaard

"We would lament if this conference was remembered only for discussions and delay. We would like the 'D' in Durban to be a 'D' for decisions and delivery", said Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioneer for Climate Action, on Tuesday at the opening of the high-level segment of COP17.

"We must deliver. Deliver on what we have already agreed in Cancun and decide on further progress. We need progress on the gap between the 2 degrees ambition and current pledges. We need progress on transparency and finance and we must include the sectors that are still not covered. And most importantly we need to decide on the way forward to a new, comprehensive legally binding global agreement", said the Commissioneer.

"Europe is ready to decide and deliver. Our legislation is built on Kyoto principles. We will over-achieve on our Kyoto commitment. We have a 20 percent target for 2020. And we are ready to go to 30 percent, provided others are also ambitious. But Europe only accounts for 11 percent of global emissions", she said.

"The Convention and the Kyoto Protocol continue to be the foundation of our international regime. However, they were both crafted in the 20th century. A future regime needs to reflect the reality of the new century, and the reality is that the countries that were industrialised countries back in 1992 account for a rapidly decreasing share of emissions. Therefore in order to tackle effectively the challenge in the 21 st century all major economies need to commit", she added.

Source: European Commission