Clinton hails Cancun agreements aimed at fighting global warming

Clinton hails Cancun agreements aimed at fighting global warming

2010-12-12 05:46:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday hailed the Cancun agreements aimed at fighting global warming as "a balanced and significant step forward."

Officials from 194 countries on Saturday reached a consensus at the 16th Conference of Parties in the Mexican resort of Cancun on future commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"We secured the Cancun Agreements, a set of balanced international decisions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) which represent meaningful progress in our global response to climate change," Clinton said in a statement.

"This outcome advances each of the core elements of the Copenhagen Accord," Clinton said.

"They anchor the accord's mitigation pledges; build on a system of transparency, with substantial detail and content of international consultations and analysis which will provide confidence that a country's pledges are being carried out, launch a new Green Climate Fund, create a framework to reduce deforestation in developing countries, establish a technology mechanism, and set up a framework and committee to promote international cooperation and action on adaptation."

Clinton also said the U.S. "has worked with our international partners to build on the progress achieved at the climate change conference in Copenhagen."

Clinton added that in the days and months ahead, the U.S. will work "with our friends and partners to keep the world focused on this urgent challenge and to continue building on this progress."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-12