Bali, Indonesia
11 Dec 2007
On the occasion of the Thirteenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-13) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, Third Session (CMP 3) Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
Panel Debate Theme
The threat posed by climate change to the world's poor and strategies for mitigation and adaptation
Speakers
Opening address: Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Sir Nicholas Stern, author of The Economics of Climate Change
Kevin Watkins, Director of the UNDP Human Development Report Office and lead author of the 2007/2008 Human Development Report
Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Marina Silva, Minister of Environment of Brazil (to be confirmed)
Architect Halima Tayo Alao, Minister of Environment of Nigeria
Closing address: Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme
Moderator: Fiona Harvey. The moderator will accept audience questions.
Organizer: Human Development Report Office and the Bureau for Development Policy of the United Nations Development Programme
Objective: To generate discussions and recommendations on how to effectively address climate change and the implications of climate change on human development. These recommendations would be the basis for the international policy decisions that need to be taken prior to the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol.
Background: The Human Development Report 2007/2008 Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world provides the basis for the discussion. Building on the science of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fourth assessment report, and the economic analysis of the Stern Review, the Report focuses on the impact of climate change on human development now and for generations to come. The effects of climate change on people’s lives and a sense of urgency for all countries to act now are central messages. The Report shows that climate change is not a future scenario. Increased exposure to droughts, floods and storms is already destroying opportunity and reinforcing inequality. While the poorest countries and most vulnerable citizens will suffer the earliest and most damaging setbacks, they have contributed least to the problem. But looking to the future, no country – however wealthy or powerful – will be immune to the impact of global warming. Business-as-usual climate change points in a clear direction: unprecedented reversals in human development in our lifetime and acute risks for our children and their grandchildren. The window of opportunity for avoiding the most damaging climate changes impacts is fast closing. Actions taken, or not taken, will have a profound bearing on the future course of human development. The world lacks neither the financial resources nor the technological capabilities to act. What is missing is a sense of urgency, human solidarity and collective interest. The Report argues that climate change challenges us to reflect on social justice and human rights across countries and generations. It challenges political leaders and people in rich nations to acknowledge their historic responsibility for the problem, and to initiate deep and early cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Above all, it challenges the entire human community to undertake prompt and strong collective action based on shared values and a shared vision.
Panel debate format: Panel participants used the policy recommendations of the Report as the basis for discussion. Questions from the audience were accepted by the moderator for panel members to respond. The moderator introduced each panel speaker and the session. Each speaker presented his views on the way forward for international policy, followed by opportunities for a first set of reactions, guided by the moderator. A brief summary of the key issues and differences was made by the moderator. This lead to a second round of reactions to allow each speaker to emphasize the rationale for his policy recommendations based on the first part of the discussion. The moderator summarized the key issues and conclusions. Total time: 1.5 hours.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, introduced by Ad Melkert, UNDP Associate Administrator, presented his opening address. The Associate Administrator closed the side event.
Date and place: 11 December 2007, Sunflower Room, Bali International Conference Centre (BICC)
Time: 18.00-19.30 (local time)
Number of attendees: 200+ (opened to attendees of the UNFCCC CMP 13)
Media and broadcast notice: A press briefing was held prior to the panel debate side event at the UNFCCC site in Bali, on 11 December 2007 at 9.00am, with statements from speakers and a question-and-answer session. Transmitted live by CNN/the BBC (video webcast). The debate was followed by a 30 minute period to allow journalists to interview the roundtable speakers.
Learn more about the conference.
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