DECLARATION OF THE LEADERS THE MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE

Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2009

We, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States met as the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in L’Aquila, Italy, on July 9, 2009, and declare as follows:

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. As leaders of the world’s major economies, both developed and developing, we intend to respond vigorously to this challenge, being convinced that climate change poses a clear danger requiring an extraordinary global response, that the response should respect the priority of economic and social development of developing countries, that moving to a low-carbon economy is an opportunity to promote continued economic growth and sustainable development, that the need for and deployment of transformational clean energy technologies at lowest possible cost are urgent, and that the response must involve balanced attention to mitigation and adaptation.

We reaffirm the objective, provisions and principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Recalling the Major Economies Declaration adopted in Toyako, Japan, in July 2008, and taking full account of decisions taken in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007, we resolve to spare no effort to reach agreement in Copenhagen, with each other and with the other Parties, to further implementation of the Convention.

Our vision for future cooperation on climate change, consistent with equity and our common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, includes the following:

Our countries will undertake transparent nationally appropriate mitigation actions, subject to applicable measurement, reporting, and verification, and prepare low-carbon growth plans. Developed countries among us will take the lead by promptly undertaking robust aggregate and individual reductions in the midterm consistent with our respective ambitious long-term objectives and will work together before Copenhagen to achieve a strong result in this regard. Developing countries among us will promptly undertake actions whose projected effects on emissions represent a meaningful deviation from business as usual in the midterm, in the context of sustainable development, supported by financing, technology, and capacity-building. The peaking of global and national emissions should take place as soon as possible, recognizing that the timeframe for peaking will be longer in developing countries, bearing in mind that social and economic development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities in developing countries and that low-carbon development is indispensible to sustainable development. We recognize the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2 degrees C. In this regard and in the context of the ultimate objective of the Convention and the Bali Action Plan, we will work between now and Copenhagen, with each other and under the Convention, to identify a global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050. Progress toward the global goal would be regularly reviewed, noting the importance of frequent, comprehensive, and accurate inventories.

We will take steps nationally and internationally, including under the Convention, to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and to enhance removals of greenhouse gas emissions by forests, including providing enhanced support to developing countries for such purposes.

2. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is essential. Such effects are already taking place. Further, while increased mitigation efforts will reduce climate impacts, even the most aggressive mitigation efforts will not eliminate the need for substantial adaptation, particularly in developing countries which will be disproportionately affected. There is a particular and immediate need to assist the poorest and most vulnerable to adapt to such effects. Not only are they most affected but they have contributed the least to the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Further support will need to be mobilized, should be based on need, and will include resources additional to existing financial assistance. We will work together to develop, disseminate, and transfer, as appropriate, technologies that advance adaptation efforts.

3. We are establishing a Global Partnership to drive transformational low-carbon, climate-friendly technologies. We will dramatically increase and coordinate public sector investments in research, development, and demonstration of these technologies, with a view to doubling such investments by 2015, while recognizing the importance of private investment, public-private partnerships and international cooperation, including regional innovation centers. Drawing on global best practice policies, we undertake to remove barriers, establish incentives, enhance capacity-building, and implement appropriate measures to aggressively accelerate deployment and transfer of key existing and new low-carbon technologies, in accordance with national circumstances. We welcome the leadership of individual countries to spearhead efforts among interested countries to advance actions on technologies such as energy efficiency; solar energy; smart grids; carbon capture, use, and storage; advanced vehicles; high-efficiency and lower-emissions coal technologies; bio-energy; and other clean technologies. Lead countries will report by November 15, 2009, on action plans and roadmaps, and make recommendations for further progress. We will consider ideas for appropriate approaches and arrangements to promote technology development, deployment, and transfer.

4. Financial resources for mitigation and adaptation will need to be scaled up urgently and substantially and should involve mobilizing resources to support developing countries. Financing to address climate change will derive from multiple sources, including both public and private funds and carbon markets. Additional investment in developing countries should be mobilized, including by creating incentives for and removing barriers to funding flows. Greater predictability of international support should be promoted. Financing of supported actions should be measurable, reportable, and verifiable. The expertise of existing institutions should be drawn upon, and such institutions should work in an inclusive way and should be made more responsive to developing country needs. Climate financing should complement efforts to promote development in accordance with national priorities and may include both program-based and project-based approaches. The governance of mechanisms disbursing funds should be transparent, fair, effective, efficient, and reflect balanced representation. Accountability in the use of resources should be ensured. An arrangement to match diverse funding needs and resources should be created, and utilize where appropriate, public and private expertise. We agreed to further consider proposals for the establishment of international funding arrangements, including the proposal by Mexico for a Green Fund.

5. Our countries will continue to work together constructively to strengthen the world’s ability to combat climate change, including through the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate. In particular, our countries will continue meeting throughout the balance of this year in order to facilitate agreement in Copenhagen.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/FACT-SHEET-Meeting-the-International-Clean-Energy-and-Climate-Change-Challenges/

THE BRIEFING ROOM

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2009

Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges

Every nation on this planet is at risk. And just as no one nation is responsible for climate change, no one nation can address it alone. That is why, back in April, I convened this forum of the world’s major economies – responsible for more than three-quarters of the world’s carbon pollution. And it is why we have gathered again here today.

—President Barack Obama
July 9, 2009, L’Aquila, Italy

From his first days in office, President Obama has made it a top priority of the United States to accelerate our transformation to a clean energy economy and combat climate change. President Obama is committed to leading the way through strong domestic actions and working with partners around the world to achieve an international agreement that will promote the clean energy technologies necessary to lower global greenhouse gas emissions in the developed and developing worlds alike.

As a key part of this effort, President Obama launched the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate. The forum convened at the Leaders level in L’Aquila, Italy on July 9, 2009, in a meeting co-chaired by President Obama and Prime Minister Berlusconi.

The Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate

The Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) brings together 17 developed and developing economies to engage in a meaningful dialogue on clean energy technology and the need to secure a broad international agreement to combat climate change.

The Leaders held candid and constructive discussions culminating in a declaration that reflects real progress on the road to the Copenhagen climate conference in December and real progress in paving the way for the development and deployment of transformational technologies.

The Leaders found common ground among the critical pillars of mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology, which are necessary for any successful agreement in Copenhagen. This complements the significant progress made by the G8 Leaders on these issues in their meeting in L’Aquila. In particular, the G8 Leaders agreed to reduce their emissions 80% or more by 2050 as its share of a global goal to lower emissions 50% by 2050, acknowledging the broad scientific view that warming should be limited to no more than two degrees Celsius.

On the heels of this progress, the MEF Leaders underscored their commitment to continue to work together to strengthen the world’s ability to combat climate change and to facilitate agreement in Copenhagen. The Leaders recognized that climate change poses a clear and present danger requiring an extraordinary global response, and outlined a series of steps to meet this challenge head on.

Regarding emission mitigation, Leaders:

Agreed that global and national emissions should peak as soon as possible;
Agreed that MEF developed countries will promptly undertake actions to produce robust reductions in their emissions in the midterm, consistent with their ambitious, long-term objectives.
Agreed that MEF developing countries will promptly undertake actions projected to result in a meaningful reduction of emissions below their business-as-usual path in the midterm;
Agreed to prepare low-carbon growth plans to guide their long-term development.
Agreed to work between now and Copenhagen to identify a global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050, recognizing the science indicating that global warming should not exceed two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels;
Committed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Regarding the advancement of clean energy technology, Leaders:

Agreed to establish a Global Partnership to drive transformational low-carbon technologies;
Aimed to double investments in public sector research, development and demonstration of transformational technology;
Agreed to spearhead efforts on technologies through the leadership of the following countries:
o The United States on energy efficiency;
o Germany on solar energy;
o The Republic of Korea and Italy on smart grids;
o Australia and the UK on carbon capture, use, and storage;
o Japan and India on high-efficiency and lower-emissions coal technologies;
o Canada on advanced vehicles;
o Germany, Denmark and Spain on wind; and
o Brazil and Italy on bio-energy.

These countries will report by November 15, 2009, on action plans and roadmaps, and make recommendations for further progress.

Regarding financing, Leaders:

Elaborated a broad set of principles to guide the design of a financial system that will support the deployment of new technologies to promote energy security, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and facilitate adaptation to climate change;
Agreed, among other thing, that financing needs to be scaled up substantially; should come from a variety of sources, both public and private; should be more predictable; should draw upon the expertise of existing institutions; and should be subject to balanced governance and clear accountability;
Asked their finance ministers to work through the G20 to recommend in advance of the Cophenhagen conference the best ways to mobilize necessary financing.
Regarding adaptation, Leaders:

Agreed that there is a particular and immediate need to assist the poorest and most vulnerable to adapt to the impacts of climate change;
Committed to work to develop, deploy and disseminate technologies that advance adaptation efforts, especially for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.
The 17 economies that participate in the MEF are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, Denmark, in its capacity as the President of the December 2009 Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the United Nations are also participating in this dialogue.

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