Ministers and Heads of Delegation from 29 countries gathered this week for intense climate talks in Ilulissat, Greenland.
The dialogue meeting was convened by Denmark in preparation for the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Launched by Denmark in August 2005, in Ilulissat, the Greenland Dialogue came full circle when it returned to Greenland this week.
The Dialogue provides an informal setting for Ministers to debate openly the most pressing issues in the negotiations in the run up to COP15 in Copenhagen. Dialogue sessions are conducted under Chatham House Rules. A set of Chairs Conclusions sums up discussions.
After the Dialogue, Denmark’s Climate and Energy Minister and incoming President of the COP15, Connie Hedegaard, said:
“The Dialogue meeting was held in an unusually open atmosphere where even the most controversial issues were discussed in a constructive manner”.
“For the first time, we sense consensus among participating countries that global temperatures do not increase by more than 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels.”
“Participants seem to agree that finance for adaptation and mitigation should be treated separately and that a mix of different sources is needed”.
“There is also general agreement that adaptation has been neglected for too long and that adaptation must be the true second leg of a Copenhagen agreement”.
“On emission reductions, participants agreed that developed countries should explore how they can strengthen the ambition of their contributions and that developing countries’ actions must be strengthened – all in order to meet the demands of science”.
“Ministers feel that our frank discussions provide useful guidance for the formal climate negotiations up to Copenhagen. They urge that we continue the dialogue. Consequently, we have agreed to continue the consultations in this group in the second half of September in New York.”
“But before we meet in this forum again, it is important that Heads of State and Government provide clear guidance. The first opportunity to do so is next week, when leaders meet at the Major Economies Forum in L’Aquila, Italy. The next opportunity will be on 22 September at the UN Secretary General’s High Level Event on Climate Change in New York”.
“The world will be watching: Strong leaders’ guidance to the negotiations is urgently needed. Leaders bear an immense responsibility to provide this guidance now”.
”This Dialogue meeting clearly increased mutual trust among parties. That may well be the most important outcome”.
Further information:
Click here and read the Chair's SummaryCOP15 websiteContact: Ida Ebbensgaard, Head of Press, +45 20 81 58 92, ide@kemin.dk