Minister bij rondetafelconferentie in Poznan
Dear Mr Nowicki, Ladies and Gentlemen,
You, Mr Nowicki asked me to introduce the last topic: finance
Finance is key for a Copenhagen agreement next year. What is this money for? This money is for investing in people, human capacity and technologies. For national mitigation actions and delivering on our global ambitions and for enhancing adaptation.
We have to build a solid international financial architecture if we want to raise money, deliver results and provide robust governance. The international financial architecture should be based on three core principles: equity, effectiveness and efficiency.
Equity means meeting the needs of all different regions and countries, including small island developing states, and sharing the burden. Effectiveness means delivering results to achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention and to generate adequate finance. Efficiency means achieving outcomes in the most cost-effective way and smooth implementation.
I have been actively promoting these principles, for which I found positive response at various meetings since Bali. I believe we can adopt these principles here in Poznan, Mr President. But principles are not enough. We need to go further. Three things are needed:
1. Raising money
I believe that every country should pay according to its ability to pay and its contribution to global emissions. This leads to the conclusion that we need to combine the Mexican and Norwegian proposals and decide upon this issue in Copenhagen. However, let us decide upon an operational Adaptation fund here in Poznan now as a first step.
2. Delivering results
How can we ensure that the money flows where it is needed and where it is most effective? Countries should develop national mitigation plans and adaptation actions. These plans are a vehicle to recognise actions, to identify needs and our appropriate support.
3. Governing the IFA
Should the UNFCCC in the governance of the International Financial Architecture play a key role? Yes!
Should the other existing international organisations be involved in the solution? Yes!
Whatever the interplay between these entities, it should deliver oversight, accountability and legitimacy. We should focus on governance, not on micromanaging administration. We need to move from conditionality to accountability.
In this respect, I see no real difference between the views of the developing and the developed countries. The G77/China proposal should be taken into account seriously.
Dear colleagues, these are, in my view, three challenges that define the international financial architecture. It is these three challenges that I put today to you for our political guidance.
Thank you.