Yvo de Boer, Secretary-General of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the key to a successful global climate deal lies in setting clear greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, in order to mitigate the worst effects of global warming and fair governance.

But above all, he said, the deal will stand or fall on agreeing the right financial package.  Speaking today at the WWF Annual Conference in Copenhagen – the city to which he will return in December for the critical climate change meeting – Executive Secretary de Boer stressed that much work still needs to be done between now and then.

He asked for clarity on four “political prerequisites” for a successful outcome: specific mid-term targets for industrialised countries; action by  developing countries to mitigate against and adapt to the worst effects of climate change; identifying where the money and technologies are going to come from to realise those actions; and a fair system of allocating and managing the funds required for developing countries to take action.  

Mr de Boer praised WWF for its successful Earth Hour campaign which saw hundreds of millions of people worldwide switching off their lights to demand action on global warming. 

“WWF has an important contribution to make in ensuring that people are aware of these issues,” he said.  

“People need to know that if Copenhagen doesn’t result in an ambitious deal, they will be committing their children and grandchildren to a world that is extremely turbulent and unstable.” 

Opening the conference earlier today (26.05.09) WWF International Director General James Leape emphasised the need for a fair, fast and effective global deal on climate change.  

“Earth Hour proved that the world expects an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen,” said Mr Leape.

“We have the technology and science to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, and we can afford it. What we need now is the political leadership to make it happen.”…….PNS (ENDS)