Some 450 experts from 130 countries, present at the 27th Inter-Government Climate Change Group Plenary (IPCC), a United Nations conference that began on Monday in the Spanish city of Valencia, will discuss how to deal with the effects of climate change.
The executive secretary in charge of the climate change framework agreement, Yvo de Boer, told the opening session that multi-lateral action is needed as soon as possible to tackle the effects of this phenomenon. "Not to do would be criminally irresponsible," he said.
He restated the scientific evidence for the phenomenon, whose effects will be felt in all nations and which he described as representing "a threat to our survival." He added that political will is needed to tackle the problem. He also praised the work of the group since its creation in 1988.
Speaking at the same meeting, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega,Spain's deputy prime minister, called for international commitment from all governments to tackle the issue especially in developing nations which she described as suffering a "gulf of inequality".
"These nations suffer more than anybody from the climate change's effects," although they contribute least pollution.
IPCC President Rajendra Pachauri said that the meeting represents a starting point for what the body, which will complete its 22nd year of service next year, must do in the future. He said the meeting's conclusion must have the quality expected by the IPCC, emphasizing the organization's excellence in pooling scientific knowledge and the relevance of this in world wide decision making.
The deputy secretary general of the World Meteorology Organization, Yan Hong, called for the strengthening of weather forecasting services, adding that extreme weather now represents 90 percent of natural disasters.
The meeting will approve a summary report, which will go forward to December's U.N. meeting in Bali, where it be used to prepare a strategy for 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases currently in force runs out.
Source: Xinhua
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