United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
Rio de Janeiro, 17 June 2012
Statement by
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
on the occasion of the 1st World Summit of Legislators
Expert Panel: Recognising National Legislation
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Let me start by congratulating GLOBE for your Rio +20 legislation protocol that you are releasing here in Rio. It is undoubtedly a promising sign of a society that is moving forward, when governments are held accountable not only by NGOs but also by legislators.
With respect to climate legislation, I am delighted that more and more governments are taking domestic action. Since GLOBE released its last study on climate legislation in Durban, Mexico has adopted a comprehensive climate legislation, Korea has passed legislation, introducing emissions trading, and China is consulting on draft climate legislation this year with the view of passing it by 2015.
I understand that GLOBE was very instrumental in the crafting of the Mexican legislation and a strong advocate for the Korean. It is no exaggeration to say that the clean revolution we need is being carried forward by legislation. Domestic legislation is critical because it is the linchpin between action on the ground and the international agreement. At the national level, it is clear that when countries enact clean energy policies, investment follows. At the international level, it is equally clear that domestic legislation opens the political space for international agreements and facilitates overall ambition.
When they are working on a text, negotiators like to say nothing is agreed until all is agreed. As I look at the prospects of an international agreement by 2015, I say nothing can be agreed until enough is domestically legislated.
I thank GLOBE for its untiring efforts. I know that there is now increasing demand from countries for your support and I know that you are currently not able to provide all the support that is being requested. But that is a good problem to have!
Let me leave my introductory remarks there, and I’m interested in your comments and questions.
Thank you.
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