‘Redress of climate change crisis a common responsibility’

The Hindu (India): Hoping for an ambitious, comprehensive and ratifiable agreement at Copenhagen later this year to deal with the climate crisis, United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has said the negotiations will have to resolve three main political challenges — clarity on commitment, financing the mitigation and adaptation needs of the developing countries, and finding credible solutions for the governance of new funds.

Speaking at the Ninth Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) here, Mr. Ban said Copenhagen, where the U.N. climate change conference is scheduled in December, must clarify commitments of developed countries to reduce their emissions by setting ambitious mid-term targets, with credible baselines and advance on the issue of financing the mitigation and adaptation needs of developing countries.

In this context, the agreement on the Adaptation Fund in Poznan was a good first step, he said. Finally, governments as well as the United Nations system must come up with credible solutions for governance of new funds and for their implementation response.
Obama’s assurance

Mr. Ban said U.S. President Barack Obama had assured him of full cooperation to make the Copenhagen meet a success. “He has assured me that climate change is his domestic as well as international priority. Domestic action by the United States is beginning to unfold,” Mr. Ban said. He looked forward to the leadership role of the U.S. in the inter-governmental negotiations….