Latest News

QUOTES-What are they saying at the COP29 climate top?

World leaders are speaking at the U.N. environment top in Baku on Wednesday.

Here are the latest comments:

ALBANIA PRIME MINISTER EDI RAMA

I chose to leave aside my well prepared speech since ... the other day I was enjoying the silent TV in the leaders' lounge, where the organizers have attentively included green plants above the comfortable couches.

People there consume, consume, satisfy, and take pictures together, while images of voiceless speeches from leaders use and on and on in the background.

To me, this seems precisely like what occurs in the real world everyday. Life goes on with its old routines, and our speeches, filled with recommendations about battling climate modification, change nothing.

U.S. CLIMATE ENVOY JOHN PODESTA

We have a clear choice in between a much safer, cleaner, fairer future and a dirtier, more unsafe, and more pricey one. We understand what to do. Let's get to work. Let's get it done.

RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER MIKHAIL MISHUSTIN

The shift to low-emission energy should not jeopardize the development of low-income nations. Global warming should not be utilized as a pretext for unjust competition or limiting practices. Reputable systems for executing international agreements are vital, including a unified system for assessing the quality of environment tasks.

IRAN VICE PRESIDENT SHINA ANSARI (via translator)

We hope that (the) international neighborhood, free from political issues, will stand together, exchange knowledge, transfer innovation and facilitate accessing funds without discrimination, and totally lift unilateral sanctions versus countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran.

However, we can not forget the fact that the present environment scenario of the world is the outcome of the commercial policies of (a) few developed nations and developing states will not be denied of their right to development because of what others have done.

As soon as once again, we emphasize that if this conference needs to plan to show its goodwill in pursuing a much better future for all, while continuing on avoiding double requirements to attain significant actions by all nations to accomplish these goals.

VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLI

A true environmental debt exists, particularly between the global north and south, linked to business imbalances, which impacts on the environment and the out of proportion use of natural resources by particular nations over extended periods of time.

Therefore, it is important to look for a brand-new worldwide monetary architecture that is human-centered. and based upon the principles of equity, justice and uniformity. A financial architecture that can genuinely ensure for all countries, particularly the poorest and those most vulnerable to climate disasters, both low carbon and high sharing advancement pathways.

BAHAMAS PRIME MINISTER PHILIP DAVIS

Currently, disastrous climate events worldwide have actually led to considerable death, home, and infrastructure. And yet, we persist in reacting to these events as though they are merely regrettable, separated, and national occurrences. I ask you to look beyond borders, beyond flags: the fires that devour your forests and the typhoons that devastate our homes are not far-off bad luck however shared tragedies.

What we endure, you sustain. What we lose, you lose. And if we stop working to act, it will be our kids and grandchildren who bear the problem, their dreams reduced to memories of what could have actually been.

GREECE PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS

Europe and the world should be more honest about the trade offs associated with the energy shift. Yes, the energy shift will, in the long run, lower expenses, however this transition will not be pain-free.

We need to ask hard questions about a path that goes really fast at the expenditure of our competitiveness, and a path that goes rather slower but enables our market to adapt and to grow. It is our responsibility to weigh these trade offs thoroughly, not to blend them away.

Our people are faced with unmatched environment shocks, we require more resources to prepare to react in time, in order to save lives and incomes and to assist people and neighborhoods rebuild after catastrophe. We can not focus so much on 2050 that we forget 2024.

COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK BROWN

Let us ask ourselves, what if this was my home, my household? This shared sense of humanity ought to inspire us to work towards tangible, transformative results over the coming days, ensuring that COP29 concludes with significant development.

These appeals have been voiced countless times, consisting of by myself, at previous Polices. Yet here we are once again, disappointed by inactiveness, unheard and dealing with resistance to the needed scale of environment financing.

For the sake of those most susceptible, we must set a path forward that aligns with the immediate realities we face. My nation is prepared, once again, to play its part. The question stays, are we all set to act decisively and collaboratively for future generations?

(source: Reuters)