Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg, our Minister of Science and Technology,

Other Ministers of State present here,
Parliamentarians,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and gentlemen,

The Protocol that I just signed, through the ratification letter for the Kyoto Protocol, is part of an effort in defense of the environment which began at the Rio Conference, in 1992. That Conference represented a watershed in the history of the United Nations and began the struggle against global warming, with the signing of the Climate Change Convention. And what was the great inspiration that motivated the leaders of the entire world who were here in Rio de Janeiro? Without a doubt, it was concern to preserve life on the planet for future generations. And what principal should guide international actions from that point on? Thanks to what became known as "the spirit of Rio", it was possible to sanction a principal that we consider fundamental – the principal of common but differentiated responsibilities. Clearly, all share responsibility. But it is obviously not shared equally by all.

Later, in 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was approved, the international community recognized the complexity of the problem and the urgent need to adopt solutions to prevent, or at least to mitigate, climate change. Today, with ratification of the Protocol, Brazil reaffirms the importance of the collective effort towards the full realization of the ideals of Rio 92. This collective effort expresses a global awareness that has its foundation in ethics, and which can be put into practice through a multilateral dialogue – the most democratic model for coexistence among sovereign states.

The response to climate change doesn’t permit unilateral and isolationist positions, because this is a global issue that affects all peoples and all regions. In fact, on more than one occasion, I had the opportunity to comment -- and it appears to me a very important moment in terms of perceptions of the set of countries and populations involved – on issues that have this global scope. I always emphasize the need for a different view of planetary issues. I once even had the opportunity to do this in the presence of the author of these changes – although perhaps without realizing it – Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the first head of State to formulate this need. It is very significant that it was Gorbachev, at the time leader of the Soviet Union, because he showed in his work and his speeches that certain issues transcend not only class – which for him would already be an immense advance in understanding of problems that go beyond class perspectives – but nations, himself being a Head of State. This was motivated in fact, for Gorbachev, by the recognition of the disasters that would be caused by use of the atomic bomb, which would lead to a no win situation – there would be no victor, all would be destroyed.

And thus there are certain questions that go beyond the limits and sensibilities and interests of the perspectives of class and nation, which leads to a broader perspective. This is why I have insisted so much, with a certain pedantism, on returning to Hegelian ideas, where we finally have the possibility of thinking of Humanity as a concrete universal. That means, as something that is not just a concept, not just an abstraction, because the concrete would be a class, a nation, or whatever, but that becomes in fact the basis for valid ideas. And, at the root of it, this is the issue. In fact, in this great Copernican revolution in thought, and what we are symbolizing here, with Rio 92, derives from the fact of rediscovering the importance of the human being in its generality, of Humanity. There are processes that affect everyone, and which therefore have to be seen in their totality, and cannot be seen from a merely localized perspective.

I have stated on various occasions that the present international conjuncture underlines the importance of solidarity as the most effective way of dealing with the great contemporary issues. The consequences that can result from global warming, especially for less developed countries, make it imperative to adopt new standards of development and cooperation, both at the international level and in Brazil. Thus it is important to make society aware of our interests, the interests of Brazil in this issue.

The social component of climate change has always been of interest to me personally. There is no way to conceive of an international effort to fight global warming without incorporating society. The social dimension is revealed in the urgent need to adopt measures to reduce the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable populations. It is especially revealed in the capacity of people to live with more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

The standards which guided the development of the richer countries are based on centuries of environmental degradation all over the planet. Because of this, the Kyoto Protocol determines that the rich countries will soon begin to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

The obligation to pay the price of sustainability should not fall to the countries that are undergoing development today, but nor, of course, does this exempt us from adopting responsible policies. We all know – our negotiators here such as Ambassador Sardenberg, Dr. Gilvan and so many others – we all know that these international negotiations have been extremely difficult. But I want to offer a special thanks to Minister Sardenberg and to the team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who together have done an extraordinary job, contributing to the success, as they did, of the Marrakesh Conference in 2001.

Throughout this entire process, Brazil has sought to build a consensus around the most important issues. But we have never lost sight of our interests, as a country committed to economic development and social justice.

For an issue of this nature, even with the extremely effective actions of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, of Minister Sardenberg, the scientific community, and non-governmental organizations, who support these programs, I have personally involved myself in this work. I have addressed this issue, as some here can attest, even by telephone during the course of these meetings, not only with our Ministers, but with Presidents of other countries such as President Bill Clinton, when discussing the Kyoto Protocol in the meeting – on two occasions I had telephone conversations with President Clinton in order to reach some understanding. But now, I have participated more directly so that we can make the diplomatic efforts needed to achieve the ratifications necessary for the Protocol to enter into force in time for the Johannesburg Conference.

Clearly, the concern about global warming is today scientifically well-founded. And political leaders have a duty to act. Brazil does not shirk from doing its part of this effort, which involves everyone, to move towards a sustainable globalization. As one of the few countries of the world with a clean energy matrix, that is, with a low carbon intensity, we can provide an example.

Recently, following the meeting that we had here with the Swedish Prime Minister and with the President of South Africa, I attended a meeting in Buenos Aires of Mercosul, with the additional presence of the President of Mexico. I worked hard so that South America would help with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and that in Johannesburg we could have a proactive position, especially in supporting a proposal of ours, for a 10% reduction, or, rather, in the maintenance of at least 10% of renewable sources in energy production.

Tomorrow or soon thereafter I will go to Guayaquil, where I will have contact with all the Presidents of South America. As I said at the Buenos Aires meeting, in Guayaquil we will reaffirm our concern for this issue and ask that the Presidents, as a group, make efforts to enable us to move some of these mechanisms forward in Johannesburg. This involves, above all, the Clean Development Mechanism, which was created by the Protocol and which offers very promising opportunities. Similarly, we have been in contact with the government of Germany regarding an initiative between Brazil and Germany to permit effective and rapid operation of the Clean Development Mechanism.

I think that we are, today, prepared to benefit from the international cooperation called for by the Clean Development Mechanism (MDL). And our competitiveness, which results from the natural resources of the market and from the Brazilian industrial structure, is reinforced by the capacity of the private sector to offer, on the international carbon market, credits resulting from exclusively national projects. We need to take this step, the opportunity that this offers us, to advance.

Brazil is also making an important scientific contribution in the area, both as a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and as a member of the executive committee of the CDM. Scientific criteria and social demands guide the committee’s decision-making. And, through the CDM, cooperation should privilege greenhouse gas reduction activities which would not otherwise be implemented because of high technological costs.

These activities should take advantage of natural advantages, such as the availability of renewable energy sources – solar, wind, biomass – and recently we have taken various measures after the energy crisis to encourage these non-conventional energy sources. We also have the chance to develop forestry projects covering large areas.

There are opportunities for industry to combine economic interests with environmental benefits. CDM projects for reduction of emissions will help developing countries achieve their sustainable development objectives. At the same time, they will contribute to the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at levels which do not damage the global climatic system. And in this effort, of course, civil society has an essential role.

I would like to emphasize here, as I’ve done a lot in private, the work of the Brazilian Climate Change Forum, and the active and distinguished work of Dr. Fabio Feldman – so active that at times he makes my life difficult. The Forum has been fundamental to raising awareness in society, by incorporating in its structure the public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations. I was joking about it, but in fact Fabio’s efforts have been extraordinary, in the persistence with which he has moved this Forum forward. And more than the Forum, his active participation in calling the attention of government to these issues.

I also wish to say that the Ministers of Environment deserve praise. Minister José Sarney Filho is no longer in the Ministry, and today we have Dr. José Carlos Carvalho, but both have been, and continue to be, very active on this issue, and it is only fair to call attention to this.

Of course sustainable development is intimately linked to the conception of a new and more participatory form of democracy. This is why it is important to emphasize civil society organizations, business leaders, scientists and politicians who create a bridge between these various sectors.

The implementation of sustainable development means observing principles of transparency and effective participation by everyone in environmental conservation.

Our meeting today is in fact a concrete expression of a successful partnership between the State and society.

I wish in closing to once again underline the contribution of the National Congress in the rapid approval of this important international instrument. And in mentioning the rapporteur, Deputy Fernando Gabeira, who is present here, having already mentioned the other parliamentarians present, the President of the Chamber who worked so hard, and the President of the National Congress, I want to apologize, because at the last meeting in which I spoke about the environment, I was asking for urgent efforts for something which had already been approved. The urgency had to be on our part, which it was, but at any rate we are here celebrating this urgency.

In fact, we are all building together a better common future, and one which must ensure more solidarity for all.

Thank you very much.