Check against delivery

We are entering the final stretch of our Montreal 2005 marathon – and it’s good to have the energetic new world team of ministers here, to take us to the finish line.

Welcome to Montreal.

In my opening remarks last week, I characterized the objectives of this conference as the three “I’s” – implementing the Kyoto Protocol; improving the Protocol and the Convention; and innovating for the future.

From what I have seen and heard so far, it is heartening to see how these three goals have been fully embraced by the Parties to this Conference.

I have seen the hard work, good will, and active listening that delegates have shown in advancing these three objectives over the last nine days – continuing the cooperative efforts that had been ongoing for months, indeed years before this Conference.

Let us recap what we have achieved so far.

We started well on the first “I,” implementing the Kyoto Protocol, with the adoption of the decisions in the Marrakech Accord.

Adopting these Marrakech decisions culminates years of effort, and their approval paves the way for fully implementing the Kyoto Protocol.

Let us celebrate the coming to life of the first binding global agreement to combat climate change!

But let us not forget that now we need to adopt the compliance procedures to complete the Marrakech Accord.

We are now making real progress on the second “I,” improving the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. Our accomplishments here in Montreal will be a milestone.

Think of the crucial issue of adaptation to climate change: here in Montreal, we are assembling a significant package of initiatives on adaptation, giving this important issue the attention it demands.

We are also working collectively to strengthen the Clean Development Mechanism – a unique market-based instrument that will be a source of investment and technology transfer for developing countries.

To this end, we must provide this Kyoto instrument with the resources and professional capacity required for it to be effective.

This brings me to the final “I” – innovating for the future. There is an urgent need to send a signal to the world about the future.

Under article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol, Annex 1 countries have to initiate meaningful discussions on new commitments for post-2012.

I said this many times, I am repeating it again : Montreal 2005 must demonstrate a strong commitment to article 3.9.
.
But we know that action under Article 3.9 is only part of the solution.

Many parties told me that to improve our collective action, we also need an open and innovative process that includes all the parties to the Convention. By initiating discussions and brainstorming we can narrow the huge, worrisome gap between what science dictates and what we are able to accomplish with our good intentions.

I have tabled a draft CoP decision and discussions have been frank and productive.

Success on the third “I”, will require much work and strong political leadership.

I appeal to your sense of duty and public dedication. In the end, there is no victory in winning a negotiation point if we all lose in the fight to combat climate change.

Yesterday I was honoured to participate in the Arctic Day events. We need to pay close attention to the knowledge and concerns of those who are experiencing the current impacts of climate change – for their dilemma will be our dilemma in the months, years and decades ahead. No country is immune to the future impacts of climate change.

The world is looking to us for action. I believe we are close to agreement. So let us finish our marathon.

Let us put together a winning combination that will strengthen the Kyoto Protocol and the implementation of the Convention; that will start the process for the second phase of Kyoto on a good footing; and that will include a decision to continue discussions on long-term cooperative action to address climate change.

It is our duty to ourselves and to future generations.

Mais que serait la raison sans les mots du coeur?

Laissons-nous maintenant emporter par le rythme de la beauté du monde…