It is fantastic to speak to you from Hanoi as you meet
in session for the first time since COP25 in Madrid,
almost 18 months ago.
It is vital that we make this session count.
Over the past months I have met and spoken with many
world leaders, ministers, civil society organisations,
chief executives of businesses, and youth
representatives.
And their message is clear - the world is watching us.
It is watching our processes.
We must step up our global response to the climate
crisis.
Demonstrating the same urgency as we are showing in
fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
This session represents a vital opportunity to make
tangible progress within the UNFCCC process.
It really cannot be about dusting off position papers
from COP25 and resuming where we left off. We must take
this opportunity to move beyond positional statements.
And instead, we must work together, we must consolidate
options and draft text that we can bring to COP26 for
finalisation and adoption.
We must put in these really hard miles of work now so
we arrive in Glasgow having done our homework, ready to
reach agreement that keeps 1.5 degrees within reach.
Agreement that protects people and nature from the
impacts of climate change. Agreement that mobilises
finance, and agreement that encourages cooperation
across borders and across society to deliver against
the goals of the Paris Agreement.
And we must ensure that we leave no issue and no one
behind.
I have utmost faith in all of you making full use of
the coming weeks.
And in the expert leadership of SB Chairs Marianne
Karlsen and Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, with whom the UK and
Chile continue to work extremely closely.
And I would like to thank the SB Chairs, as well as my
dear friend the Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa,
and her whole Secretariat team, for their efforts in
organising this session.
Particularly, their great work in addressing the very
valid concerns raised on virtual working.
And I would like to wish all of you the very best for
this vital session.
I look forward to reading the outputs of your
collective efforts.
