Distinguished delegates, Honored guests,Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great privilege to welcome you to the United Nations Climate Change Conference for 2006. May I begin by offering my sincere thanks and congratulations to the Government of Kenya for hosting this important, exciting and historic conference.

Congratulations to all of us on our efforts to continue to move forward such a crucial issue.

I would also like to offer my congratulations to the incoming President of the Conference of the Parties, Minister Kivutha Kibwana. It has been a privilege to sit as President and on behalf of my country Canada, I want to extend my congratulations and best wishes for your presidency. Canada knows the importance of this meeting and all of us are supportive and fully confident that Minister Kibwana will provide the leadership and wisdom needed to guide this Conference to a successful outcome.

The role of President of the COP and COP/MOP presents many important challenges, but it also presents many exciting opportunities to engage in discussions with leaders from around the world on their efforts to address the problem of global climate change and, in particular, their thoughts on how to move the process forward. Because that is why we are truly here, to ensure we can address this global issue together.

In this regard, I would like to offer a special thanks to the Bureau of COP 11 for their invaluable advice over the last months. I would also like to offer my congratulations to Mr. Ivo de Boer on his appointment as executive secretary.

I had the honor of presiding at the opening ceremony for our sessions in Bonn, where we held the first discussions on the future of international climate change cooperation.

Two new processes were launched in Bonn that are integral to the discussions we will be having over the next two weeks.

I was also able to hold informal consultations concerning the proposal of the Russian Federation to develop appropriate procedures for the approval of voluntary commitments. It is encouraging that we recognize the importance of discussions around this proposal. It was a special privilege to host the adaptation workshop for the UNFCCC in my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.

Climate change is truly a global issue and genuine progress is dependent on all major emitting countries playing a role in finding a solution. All nations need to work together, identifying common challenges and sharing ideas. But, as we all know, our individual circumstances are unique and finding shared solutions can be complex. But we must move forward, we must engage one another in ways we have never done in the past.

We will need to ask ourselves: "What has worked to address climate change and what has not?"

"How can we broaden our efforts and work more effectively together?" But perhaps most importantly, we will need to ask: "how can we find a truly effective global solution to the threat of climate change?"

Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, in closing, let me once again thank the Government of Kenya for hosting these sessions and offer my best wishes to His Excellency Minister Kivutha Kibwana.

I am sincerely looking forward to joining you in Nairobi next week. It is my hope that we will all take full advantage of the opportunities presented by this Conference to make genuine progress in our effort to combat global climate change.

Thank you.