The Asia Regional Conference
Asia’s regional conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance brought together representatives of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar and Nepal as well as of the EU. The representatives of the EU and of developing countries in Asia agreed to work together to mobilise international support for stronger action on climate change.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, opened the Asia Conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance in Dhaka calling upon the most vulnerable countries to forge greater unity to establish their rights in the international forums. The European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, carried on stating, among other things, the responsibilty of developed countries to find a solution to the climate change challenges. Their speeches were followed by presentations from honourable guests of participant countries expressing their views on climate change needs, strategies, actions and commitments.
For more information on the Asia Regional Conference, see the press release...
See the presentation "From Copenhagen to Mexico: Next steps on international climate negotiations" by Rosario Bento Pais, EC DG Climate Action
To see the speeches, please click below:
Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Dr Stefan Frowein, EU Ambassador
Dr Qazi Kholiquazzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Governing Body of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)
Dr Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow Climate Change Group (IIED)To see the country statements, please click below:
To see the country technical presentations, please click below:
Presentation from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (Nepal)
The Objective of the Conference
The objective of this conference with these eight Asian countries was to exchange practical ideas in a continued effort to maintain the momentum of global efforts to tackle climate change. An EU–Asia Joint Declaration on climate change action was anticipated, aimed at advancing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and related agreements, and most importantly, contribute to creating conditions for a post- 2012 climate change agreement. In signing this declaration, the EU is making a firm commitment to engage with developing country partners in tackling the problems faced as a result of climate change.
The aim of the EC is to build trust, as this is essential for a successful outcome in the international negotiations on a post-2012 agreement. Through the Global Climate Change Alliance, the EU is looking to improve the dialogue between developed and developing countries, particularly on how to adapt to climate change for those who are most vulnerable - the Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States. Building trust will be essential to achieve concrete action on both mitigation and adaptation in a post-2012 agreement.
The EU is committed to meet its obligations in supporting vulnerable developing countries in adapting to climate change, and it understands its responsibility for providing assistance in this respect. The EU therefore considers adaptation as one of the priority areas for our 2010-2012 ‘fast-start’ funding activities committed to in Copenhagen. This EU funding will contribute to reinforcing the Global Climate Change Alliance actions.
The agenda (click here)
EC Delegations of Maldives, Nepal and Laos
EC Delegations of Afghanistan, Cambodge and Bangladesh
The video clip of the conference
You can fin below the video clip on the Asia Regional Conference, featuring Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action :
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Official European Commission website for the GCCA Initiative |      |