UN System side event on adaptation to climate change

UN Side event on adaptation panel of speakers

8 December, Cancun Mexico - The President of Kiribati, H.E Mr. Anote Tong chaired a side event at the UN climate change talks in Cancun today. Titled “UN System Side Event on Adaptation to Climate Change” it demonstrated the capability and readiness of the UN system to collectively support countries in developing and implementing adaptation policies, programme and projects.

Five leading UN agencies and programmes presented a range of concrete adaptation actions being jointly implemented in support for the development and implementation of adaptation policies, programmes and projects in the following areas: Adaptation and development, Science for adaptation, Human settlements, Disaster risk reduction, National level actions.

The side event ended with a final message from all the guest speakers:

President of Kiribati, HE. Mr Anote Tong:

"Kiribati is one of the most vulnerable counties and adaptation is somthing we despeately need for yesterday.  Not next week."

United Nations Development Programme, (Spokesperson on behalf of) Ms Helen Clark, Administrator:

“Adaptation after all is about partnerships, not about competition because when we work together we deliver better results.”

World Meteorological Organization, Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary General:

“When you build a house you don’t start from the roof, you start from the foundation so my message is the foundation for me is the formation base of decision making. Do not forget the foundation.”

United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Ms. Axumite Gebre-Egziabher, Director, Shelter and Sustainable Human Settlements Development Division

"Adaptation is about sharing, learning, partnerships and moving into action as soon as possible."

United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reducation, Ms. Helena Molin Valdes, Deputy Director:

"To adapt to climate change  and reduce disaster risk is doing development in a smart way but it is also about including mitiging the greenhouse gases, which is part of the disaster risk reduction agenda.

World Food Programme, Mr Stanlake Samkange, WFP Country Director, Uganda:

"The UN can come together particularly on the issue of climate change but we have to comne together and if we don’t we will be rightfully margainilised."