Countries Reach Historic Agreement in Cancun; Global Efforts to Fight Global Warming Move Forward

WASHINGTON (December 13, 2010) – After the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting concluded in Cancun, Mexico, Jake Schmidt, International Climate Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council made the following statement:

“Here in Cancun, 193 countries came together and demonstrated a renewed commitment to the fight against global warming. The Cancun Agreements are a detailed set of visionary, yet pragmatic principles that make important strides to begin implementing the agreement reached in Copenhagen last year. The countries gathered in Cancun made progress on emissions reductions, greater transparency, forest preservation and the creation of the green fund to help mobilize much needed investments throughout the world.

“The Cancun Agreements, combined with the efforts of millions of people around the world working at the personal, local, state and regional levels to deal with this problem, signify real progress. We now have a solid foundation from which to build upon.

“This agreement also increases transparency by requiring all countries to show how they are doing their part to address climate change. Developed and developing countries will improve their reporting of their emissions and actions, with reports every 2 years that provide details on their progress in implementing their emissions reduction actions. Developed countries are to provide details on the financial, technical and capacity-building support they are providing to developing countries to address climate change, particularly those most affected by climate change.

“We have also seen progress on efforts to reduce deforestation emissions, speed up the deployment of clean energy, and assist developing countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change. The agreement would create a ‘Green Climate Fund’ to help mobilize needed investments in developing countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change. It would create “centers and networks” to help developing countries tap into key expertise in their efforts to deploy clean energy and help connect countries to the growing number of financing opportunities for clean energy. And it would speed up action on adaptation to assist the most vulnerable that are already feeling the impacts of climate change.”