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Mr President, Your Excellencies,
In 1992, our predecessors met in Rio de Janeiro at the Earth Summit, a watershed event which shaped the world in a profound way. As we gather in Belém in Amazonia, we can confirm that despite the sometimes slow and painful progress over the past 30 years, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as the Paris Agreement, has been a success story of multilateralism.
Some cynics try to belittle our COP-meetings. But let’s keep on proving them wrong. We are making progress.
I have both good and bad news. The good news is that as recently reported by the UNFCCC, we are at long last bending the global emissions curve downwards. The bad news is, that while the direction is right, the pace is far too slow.
COP30 is crucial. Whether we will permanently lose the 1.5-degree goal depends on the decisions made here and now.
I would like to underline three critical elements which I believe will ensure the success of COP30.
Firstly, we must all lead by example. At COP, each Party has an equal say, regardless of their size. We are also collectively accountable. Yes, the largest emitters must lead the way in reducing emissions. And they must do it now. But the rest of us need to act in an equally responsible manner.
Stop blaming your neighbour. Look in the mirror and see what you can do. Nostalgia is no better driver than cynicism.
We must turbocharge the transition away from fossil fuels. All of us in a position to do so must urgently provide the necessary financial and other support to help the most vulnerable countries to adapt.
Leading by example also means giving a voice to those most affected by climate change. Let me applaud the COP Presidency, Brazil, for highlighting the role of Indigenous Peoples in climate action as well as underline the importance of the COP adopting an ambitious Gender Action Plan.
Secondly, we must put science in the driver’s seat. While the states gathered here have different interests, we all share the common goal of ensuring a livable planet for the future generations.
Not a single person in this room wants to pass on devastation to their children and grandchildren. We have the best scientists at our disposal, and they are unanimous that delaying climate action would have consequences that are devastating for all and irreversible for some.
There are no excuses. At the same time, we need to recognize the growing amount of disinformation around climate science as an attempt to rattle the multilateral system and slow down clean transition.
When we face difficult political choices, debate is necessary, and it has to be frank and honest. Remembering our common goal, we must not yield to efforts stoking polarization.
Thirdly, we must be bold. We need three things: regulation, finance and innovation. All of them. You can’t regulate or finance yourself out of the climate crisis. Innovation is key.
Don’t pit climate action and growth as enemies. They are friends. They go hand in hand. Numerous encouraging examples show, that decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth is possible. We need to invest in clean technologies and make sure that those, who most need them, have the access. Investment for climate is the growth and prosperity plan for this century.
Excellencies,
COP30 must send a clear message that the green transition is here to stay and that fossil fuels have no future. Ten years after Paris, let us make sure Belém will be remembered as a success too.
And let me finish off by saying that in Finnish we have a saying that “a pessimist is never disappointed”. I disagree. A pessimist will never solve the climate crisis.
