DANISH MINISTER FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION HOSTS MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The meeting brought together EU Ministers for Development Cooperation and representatives from key developing countries, including Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho, from Bangladesh Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Environment and Forest, Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Ghana’s Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and representatives from Mali.

Stressing the development aspects of COP15, Ms. Ulla Tørnæs underlined the importance of an ambitious and comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen as well as the vital role of development cooperation and further dialogue with partner countries in the follow-up to COP15. The Minister urged colleagues from other donor countries to join the EU by announcing significant increased financial contributions, referring to the commitment by EU and its Member States to contribute fast-start funding of EUR 2.4 billion annual for the period 2010 to 2012. To ensure that climate efforts support the fight against poverty, such financing should be additional. Minister Tørnæs also underlined that developing countries too have to deliver, ensuring that climate funds are managed efficiently, effectively and without delay and aligned to national aspirations and needs.

The meeting was jointly organized by Minister Tørnæs and Ms. Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister for Development Cooperation and current EU Presidency. Ms. Ulla Tørnæs and Ms. Gunilla Carlsson had prepared a joint Statement, which was handed over to the COP15 Presidency together with the GAERC Council Conclusions on Climate Change and Development (dated 17 November 2009).