United Nations Radio

The man in charge of climate change issues at the United Nations, Yvo de Boer has called for investments in clean energy.

Briefing reporters on the latest developments in negotiations on a new climate change agreement, he said governments now have the opportunity to create and enforce policy which stimulates competition to fund clean industry.

Quoting the International Energy Agency, Mr. de Boer said global energy demand will grow by 55 per cent by 2030.

He said that in the period up to that year the energy supply infrastructure will require a total investment of $22 trillion with about half of that in developing countries.

Mr. de Boer warned that if these investments are not directed in a climate friendly direction, there will be an increase in global emissions by 50 per cent instead of the decrease that the scientific community is calling for.

"And in that context, the developing world is most at risk from rising seas, disappearing fresh water, declining crop yields and rising health risks. If available global capital is used primarily to re-float the financial world, we literally will sink the futures of the poorest of the poor."

Mr. de Boer said he hoped that people in the developing countries will not have to wait for those in the developed countries to have repaid their credit card debts and mortgages before attention is again turned to the South.

This is Dianne Penn for United Nations Radio.

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