The technology and measures for these significant reductions are available. What is needed from the leaders of all developed countries is political will. Every region of the world will be affected by climate change. The benefits of measures to mitigate its effects will also be felt by us all. But the need to take action on climate change is driven by principle as well as by practical need.
Developed countries are historically responsible for most of the world's greenhouse-gas emissions.
We have a duty to pass on to our children and theirs a world which can support the quality of life we want them to have. It is no less our duty to help the poorest citizens of the world out of abject poverty and to make sure that no-one is forced to sacrifice their own health and that of their environment in the world's pursuit of economic growth. That is one reason why it is so important that developed countries should keep to their agreement to lead the way on climate change. We cannot lecture developing countries about the importance of protecting the environment from behind the luxury of our own high living standards and expect to be taken seriously. We have to be prepared to show that we recognize the aspirations of people in developing countries to a better quality of life.