Pre-COP Consultations Copenhagen, 17 November 2009. Address by Danish Prime Minister LarsLøkke Rasmussen

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Thank you for this opportunity to address the pre-COP consultations. I know Connie has made youwork hard at this meeting as well as at previous sessions of the Greenland Dialogue. Hard work andpolitical will is the only way forward – and it is not over yet.I am just back from a meeting with leaders gathered for the APEC Summit in Singapore. We had avery encouraging discussion. And we reminded ourselves of the mandates and the deadline set atBali.I presented the vision for an ambitious, binding agreement in Copenhagen. An agreement providingfor immediate and strong action within all areas of the Bali mandates. And setting us on track for acomprehensive legal framework.I am pleased with the positive response I got. Also the American President endorsed our approach,implying that all developed countries will need to bring strong reduction targets to the negotiatingtable in Copenhagen.Part of the press reports has focused on the fact that Copenhagen is not likely to conclude all aspectsof a new legal deal. That will be no surprise to any of you familiar with the status of the negotiations.My focus remains the real commitments we can obtain for strong and specific action, both in theshort and in the longer term.Thus: Real action and a strong mandate and a time frame for further work on the legal framework tobe concluded as soon as possible.The positive response and the political commitment I hear from leaders from around the world givesme hope for Copenhagen. I am also encouraged by the discussions between ministers in this room.Leaders expect a positive outcome and that provides the strongest possible impetus to you. The jobis to translate political will into political action in Copenhagen.***I believe we agree that in Copenhagen we must - and I believe we can - deliver on the substance.Copenhagen should neither be a stopover nor a tiny steppingstone as some proclaim. Let there beno doubt about our intensions.Given the time factor and the situation of individual countries, we must in the coming weeks focuson what is possible, and not let ourselves be distracted by what is not possible.The Copenhagen Agreement should capture progress already achieved in the negotiations, and atthe same time provide for immediate action already from next year.The Copenhagen Agreement should be concrete and binding on countries committing to reachtargets, to undertake actions, and to provide agreed finance. Of course, developed countries must

take lead by delivering substantial reductions and finance. We need numbers on the table inCopenhagen.Finally, as I have mentioned, the Copenhagen Agreement should mandate continued negotiationsfor a legal outcome and set a deadline for the conclusion. The Danish Government firmly believes weshould have a legal framework agreed. Sooner rather than later.So why not a legally binding text in Copenhagen? Because the time and the diverging positions of theparties, as well as the number of possible outstanding issues to be resolved, will not allow for it tohappen. But that must not be an excuse for inaction.You may ask whether a Copenhagen agreement, which is political in nature, will prevent us fromever getting a legal agreement. No, I don’t think so. The stronger our politically binding agreement inCopenhagen, the faster the progress toward a new legally binding, global climate regime.What about Kyoto? Is Denmark ready to sacrifice it? Again, the answer is no. Denmark is a party tothe Kyoto Protocol and will remain so. Negotiations after Copenhagen towards a legally bindingregime should keep all options open, including a second commitment period under the KyotoProtocol.I fully understand the concerns expressed in regard to the form of the agreement. But I would alsolike to stress that the answer is not to postpone action until a legal regime is agreed, signed, ratifiedand effective.Many of us are already committed to act. So why wait? Why refuse to do what we can agree to doalready by Copenhagen?***That is why, Denmark has set out the vision of “one Agreement – two purposes”.Firstly, the Copenhagen Agreement should have a solid content covering all the Bali building blocks:shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building. This will provide astrong impetus and guidance to further negotiations on a legal framework.Secondly, the agreement should provide for immediate action in all areas, including mitigation,adaptation and finance. Significant up-front finance should support early adaptation and mitigationefforts as well as capacity building and technology cooperation.Will it be ambitious? Yes it will indeed. The overall aim will be to conclude a binding agreement thatwill set the path to limit global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius as recommended byscience.Will it divert from the agreed principles and instruments? No absolutely not. The agreement willbuild on already agreed legal instruments and principles. Its very foundation will be the principle of acommon but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.Will it only be a partial agreement? No – we cannot do half a deal in Copenhagen and postpone therest till later. The agreement will cover all the key issues and all parts of the Bali mandates. I do not

share the view that it will be possible in Copenhagen to do some parts of the deal and not the other.We need the commitments. We need the figures. We need the action.Will it be binding? Yes – it will be binding. Even if we may not hammer out the last dot’s of a legallybinding instrument, I do believe a politically binding agreement with specific commitments tomitigation and finance provides a strong basis for immediate action in the years to come.I am not talking about a political declaration with niceties, but a decision among all Parties thatincludes precise language on all aspects of the Bali mandates: Commitment of developed countriesto reductions and of developing countries to actions. Strong provisions on adaptation, finance,technology and capacity building, including up-front finance for early action.Beneath that we will have underlying annexes outlining the specific commitments of individualcountries. These will be negotiated and they will be subject to a transparent system ofmeasurement, reporting and verification.Furthermore, we will have a number of decisions covering in more detail some of the Bali elements,unfolding the adaptation framework, the technology mechanism as well as other issues.We are not aiming to let anyone off the hook. We are trying to create a framework that will alloweverybody to commit.***It is my firm view that the vision I have outlined to you is not one among many possible ways ahead.It may well be the only one.Some of you have wished for a different form or for a different legal structure. Still, I believe you willagree with me on one fundamental point: What matters at the end of the day is the ability of theCopenhagen Agreement to capture and reinforce global commitment to real actions.Equity and realism must guide our efforts. We should not look for another international declarationof intent but strive for an agreement to commit.As you know I have invited leaders to conclude COP15 at the Summit level. I look forward towelcoming all of you.Thank you.