France aims for a sustainable and dynamic climate change agreement in Paris this year

12 May, Apia, Samoa, PCCR - As host of the UN Climate Change Convention in December this year that will bring in a new global climate change agreement, France acknowledges its responsibility to guarantee a transparent and inclusive negotiation process.

It is hoped that the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) will result in a "Paris Alliance" that addresses the challenge of climate change. In order to achieve this France has three watch words: listening, ambition and the spirit of compromise.

"As President François Hollande expressed to the Pacific Leaders during the high-level dialogue which took place in SPC in Nouméa on 17th November 2014, France is fully part of the Pacific through her collectivities of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis-end-Futuna," presented His Excellency Jean-Luc Faure-Tournaire, the Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the Pacific Community.

"France takes part to the success achieved in this region, and also to the challenges it faces."

H.E Faure-Tournaire was part of the high level speakers during the opening ceremony of the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Apia, Samoa. The meeting was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Samoa.

The PCCR has an emphasis on partnerships, climate finance, lessons learnt from implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework Action on Climate Change (PIFACC). The voyage ahead to the COP 21 the UN Climate Change Convention in December this year is also a key focus.

As stated by H.E Faure-Tournaire today, COP 21 is aiming to reach a sustainable and dynamic agreement, one that takes into account the respective capacities and needs of developing countries to ensure they have the implementing resources needed, as well as a balanced agreement between mitigation and adaptation to contain the temperature rise to below 2°C.

"As host country of the COP 21 we will call upon all parties to seek the necessary comprises as we aim for a significant, sustainable and dynamic agreement that sends the necessary signals to economic stakeholders to undertake the transition towards low carbon economies," he presented.

H.E Faure-Tournaire explained that France is working to help mobilize new partners and contribute to the visibility of their efforts and commitments through 2015 and in Paris.

"We also invite all governments and civil society stakeholders, including businesses, local government bodies and NGO's to support and strengthen this action agenda."

The COP 21 is hosted in Le Bourget, Paris from 30 November to 11 December this year, a range of meetings and conferences will lead towards the UN climate change event over the course of the next few months including the PCCR in Apia this week.