President Türk calls for further steps as a follow-up to the Copenhagen climate summit

New Delhi, 5.2.2010  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, today attended the opening ceremony and session of the 10th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, where he appeared as a speaker. In his address, Dr Türk emphasised that, in view of the experience of the Copenhagen climate summit, there is a need for an organised effort to see exactly where the international community stands and to determine how to make real progress towards the adoption of a binding agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of this year. According to President Türk, the outcome of the Copenhagen summit fell short of expectations. Therefore, we should think about lessons learnt and consider further steps.

Among important lessons from the climate summit, he highlighted the organisation of negotiations, the question of public opinion and the identification of stakeholders who should participate in the relevant processes. As regards the organisation of negotiations, these should, in his view, take place in smaller groups and at a plenary conference allowing all states to participate. On public opinion, we should promote awareness that the Copenhagen Accord is a positive step, as it includes positive elements and serious and concrete commitments. Regarding the stakeholders in the process, President Türk emphasised that a clear vision from the major economies i.e. the G20 group is required, including the participation of ministers of finance in the design of the process. Due to the complex nature of issues connected with climate change, it is equally important to also consider the opinion of individual regions within large countries, as well as the opinion of the business sector, which needs clear policies in order to be able to plan technological development.

President Türk said that the end result of negotiations should be an agreement defining targets and timetables for all countries. He went on to say that harmonised policies concerning CO2 taxes, cap-and-trade and other regulations, as well as more clearly articulated national policies are also required. At the close of his address, Dr Türk stressed that objectives on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should be harmonised with global development objectives, including lifting millions and millions of people out of poverty.

Within the 10th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, President Türk attended the panel discussion entitled "Mainstreaming Climate Change into Development".