United Nations Radio

Climate financing is an investment in a safer, cleaner, more prosperous future for all of us - that according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban Ki-moon

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after meeting with the Prime Ministers of Ethiopia and Norway as co-Chairmen of the High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing, the Secretary-General stressed the need for world leaders to deliver on pledges they made in Copenhagen last year to provide sizeable financial support to developing countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

He recalled that the leaders agreed to scale up support to reach $100 billion per year by 2020, in addition to $30 billion until 2012.

Secretary-General Ban says delivering on these pledges will strengthen trust between developing and developed countries.

"It will be very helpful politically in making this negotiation process going smoothly and it is crucial for building positive momentum in the global negotiations. Climate change is not going away. The risks and costs of inaction grow each year. The more we delay, the more we will have to pay - in lost opportunities, resources and lives."

Secretary-General Ban says that is why the 21 member High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing is so important, adding that he counts on the leadership and political wisdom of all its members.

Donn Bobb, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'21")