Statement from Marta Szigeti Bonifert, Executive Director of Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
December 18, 2009, Copenhagen
Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to speak on behalf of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe.
Although Central and Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe and Turkey present different economic, cultural and historical facets, the countries are interconnected and today, more than ever, are facing common challenges. They have a rich but - according to the IPCC report - very vulnerable environment, and big potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. At the same time, some of the countries enjoy economic growth and are committed to further development.
With a network that ensures its local presence, the Regional Environmental Center is an international organisation that serves these regions with the aim of supporting all stakeholders in the global processes and fostering UNFCCC mitigation and adaptation efforts. For this region, the project-based flexible mechanisms are extremely important, providing direct channels for environmentally friendly technologies. The Regional Environmental Center recommends strengthening domestic capacities, especially to implement project-based mechanisms focusing on non-Annex 1 parties in South Eastern Europe. These countries are in a very singular situation with few prospects of financial support for adaptation and mitigation, which deters consistent investment and actions to combat climate change.
The Regional Environmental Center continues actively to support sub-regional cooperation in combating climate change. Along with its partners, the Regional Environmental Center facilitates the South East European Climate Change Framework Action Plan for Adaptation and coordinates the activities of the sub-regional Virtual Climate Change Centre for South Eastern Europe as well as other related activities at national level, including the establishment of the Turkish Climate Platform.
We also recommend enhancing region-specific scientific activities in the field of climate projections and impact assessment to support the work of the IPCC, and we ask the IPCC to provide greater focus on regional aspects in its next assessment report in order to enable the development of regional solutions based on solid scientific knowledge.
In Central and Eastern Europe - and beyond - it is crucial to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix and to promote energy efficiency solutions, sustainable consumption patterns and sustainable production methods. Education and awareness-raising about climate change and sustainable development, and capacity building for key stakeholders such as governments, municipalities, NGOs, the business sector and younger members of our society are also part of the Regional Environmental Center's efforts to avert the threat of climate change and to promote the concept of sustainable development in all areas of life.
By way of conclusion, I would like to emphasise that the essential political agreement for which we all yearn is only rationally possible if we give up thinking in terms of winners and losers, and if we strive not for a rigid, single solution but for a complex, long-term, win-win, and frequently adjusted global system.
To begin with, a feasible and effective political deal should include the much-needed financial fast track, followed by ambitious commitments on mitigation and adaptation, financing and the transfer of technology from developed countries, and all this within a proper governance framework for funding, implementation and monitoring. The participation of stakeholders at all levels, from global and national to sub-national and local, including businesses, IGOs, NGOs and other major groups, is essential to ensure both efficiency and transparency.
All citizens, from both north and south, must understand their particular responsibilities, past and future, and commit themselves to the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.
With its 20 years of expertise, the Regional Environmental Center is ready to contribute to the enormous transition that we all face as we work together for present and future generations.
Thank you for your attention.
