Will represent UN role in effort to secure funding to helpdeveloping countries cope with effects of shifts in climate
Geneva, 14 July 2010 -- UNCTAD´s Secretary-General has accepted an invitation to take a seat on the High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing -- joining several Heads of State -- so that he can spearhead the UN´s role on the issue.
UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi was requested to take the position this week by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Mr. Ban established the High-Level Advisory Group, or AGF, in March. Current members include Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, who serve as co-chairs; and Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana; along with the finance ministers, bank representatives; regional financial and monetary officials, and leading economists from around the world.
The AGF has the task of studying potential sources of revenue that can be used to help developing countries carry out activities to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Such financing was promised during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. According to the Copenhagen Accord, "in the context of meaningful action and transparency on implementation, developed countries commit to a goal of mobilizing jointly US$100 billion a year by 2020" for such activities in developing countries.
The Accord notes that the funding "will come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources of finance."
Mr. Supachai´s assumption of a seat on the panel reflects the concerns of the United Nations Secretary-General "that the UN role is well understood by panel members, and also that specifics about the UN role are clearly included in the final report," the Secretary-General´s office said.
It added the Mr. Supachai, in his work, will "send a clear signal about the importance" of the UN role in securing financing for climate-change mitigation and adaptation. "We can build on the initial UN inputs already prepared, but more will need to be done."
The Advisory Group has just concluded a two-day session in New York. It met for the first time in late March. Working groups established by the panel held their first meetings in April in Washington, D.C.
The AGF is expected to issue its recommendations before the next conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Mexico later this year.
Mr. Ban said when the AGF was created that making financing available to help developing countries cope with climate change is an urgent matter and "making progress on financing can inspire positive movement in other areas of the UNFCCC negotiations."
