COPENHAGEN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka, Uganda and Cook Islands say they must take home a legally binding agreement on CO2emission reduction targets from the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Speaking at Wednesday's high-level segment of the conference here, Patali Champika Ranawake, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Sri Lanka, said developed countries must commit to ambitious and binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, given the vulnerabilities, inadequate means and limited capacities of developing countries.
He said the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities was critical in combating climate change in accordance with the principles and provisions of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.
He hoped the outcome of negotiations in Copenhagen would fulfill the long-term objectives of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol by sealing a comprehensive deal.
Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment of Uganda, said a long-term solution must adequately reflect the right to sustainable development, the principles of historical responsibility and common but differentiated responsibility and capabilities that were enshrined in the Convention.
"In order to achieve the objective of staying within safe temperature limits, we call upon developed countries to exercise leadership and quickly adopt an aggregate reduction target of no less than 45 percent below the 1990 levels by 2020," she said.
Jim Marurai, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, said this conference represented hope -- "'Hopenhagen' for the hope of my people who are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change."
"My people want a fair, legally binding agreement from this Conference -- an agreement that would secure a meaningful reduction in emissions, and guarantee support for adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change," he said.
"Let the cry of the world be heard in Copenhagen and turn hope into certainty," he said: "Say 'yes' now to a fair and legally binding agreement."
