Kumi Naidoo

Executive Director, Greenpeace International

Harjeet Singh

International Coordinator - Disaster Risk

Reduction & Climate Adaptation, ActionAid

Winnie Byanyima

Executive Director, Oxfam International

Jim Leape

Executive Director, WWF International

Magda Stoczkiewicz

Director, Friends of the Earth Europe

Laura Taylor

Head of Advocacy, Christian Aid

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your joint letter of 8 November 2013.

I very much appreciate your deep concern regarding the current direction of global emissions, and the role played by the coal industry in this sobering reality. I share that concern, and also believe that it is my duty to speak up about it. That is precisely why I will be going to speak directly to an industry that must change quickly and must hear the reasons why, if the objective of the Climate Change Convention is to be achieved.

You know better than most that the world can meet the broad challenge of climate change if and only if all sides and all sectors move faster to curb the greenhouse gas emissions which put the present and every future generation at risk. You also well know that it is simply not enough to speak only to the committed. You say to me that we need all of our leaders to promote green jobs and a just transition towards sustainability. I agree. Not some of them, all of them.

The solutions to climate change offer every government, business and person an opportunity to transform to a cleaner, more sustainable world. For that reason, I am committed to the broadest possible engagement with all sectors. For that reason I have reached out to women, youth, religious movements, other civil society groups, cities and regions, all energy sectors, finance, corporations, legislators, and many more.

As the UN’s leading climate official I am committed to pushing for the solutions to climate change wherever I see them, and especially where they are not visible yet. I will not rule out any action by anyone. If we are going to change behaviours, we need to change minds.

At the opening of the COP Dr. Pachauri reminded us of Einstein’s wisdom that problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them. While we may use different avenues of raising awareness for change, you and I are joined in our commitment to do so. I therefore look forward to strengthened collaboration between your organizations and the UNFCCC secretariat.

I would very much welcome a conversation with you this week. Please be in touch with Eve Kolasa (ekolasa@unfccc.int) to schedule a meeting.

Yours sincerely,

Christiana Figueres