Achim Steiner, Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme

On behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme, and indeed the whole United Nations family based here in Nairobi, I would like to welcome delegates to Kenya for the second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention.

It is only two years since Andrey Denisov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, presented the Russian Federation’s instrument of ratification for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, here at UNEP’s global headquarters.

At the time, the Secretary-General noted that “This is a historic step forward in the world’s efforts to combat a truly global threat. Most important, it ends a long period of uncertainty. Those countries that have ratified the Protocol, and which have been trying to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases even before its entry into force, now have a legally binding obligation to do so. Businesses that have been exploring the realm of green technology now have a strong signal about the market viability of their products and services. And the financial community and insurance industry, which have been trying to “put a price” on the risks associated with climate change, now have a stronger basis for their decision-making on incentives and corporate performance.”

Those words still ring true today. Since the Kyoto Protocol was ratified, the Clean Development Mechanism, that allows developed countries to offset emissions via forestry and renewable technology projects in developing countries, has gathered momentum, with Certified Emission Reductions estimated at 1.2 billion tonnes by 2012. Renewable energy production is also developing at a rapid pace, while significant numbers of states and local authorities have committed to joining carbon trading schemes or established laws on emission reductions. These and other initiatives are what is needed to mitigate climate change.

I believe that Kenya’s hosting of this Conference of Parties also sends a strong message that the time is right to bring specific attention to bear on the impact of climate change on Africa, as well as addressing the continent’s participation in the global response. For the people of the developing world, climate change is a very real threat to lives and livelihoods. For them, adaptation to changing and variable climatic conditions is going to be imperative in coming decades. The responsibility for assisting these nations belongs firmly on the agenda of the international community. Hopefully, by meeting here in Nairobi, delegates’ minds will be focused on this most urgent issue.

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