COP 21: What President Paul BIYA Told the World in Paris (Full Speech)

The President of the Conference,

Heads of State and Government,

The Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I would like to first of all thank the French authorities and, especially, President François Hollande for the quality of their welcome. I also wish to congratulate them for the excellent organization of COP21 and their commitment to ensuring its success.

I would also like to congratulate the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his contribution to preparing this meeting which, undoubtedly, is one of the most important at this beginning of the millennium. 

In fact, our Conference addresses the urgent need to contain the adverse effects of climate change. It is our responsibility. It is our duty. And here, we have the opportunity.

To be credible, our conclusions and compromises must be binding. It is not an impossible task. Let us be guided simply by the requirement of human solidarity and proper appraisal of the urgency of the situation.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FAIL.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although a low greenhouse gas-emitting country, Cameroon will continue to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction through the following:

- firstly, the plan to reduce carbon footprint by 32% by 2035 compared with 2010;

-secondly, desertification control, preparation of a clean development mechanism, sustainable forest management and an action for the concerted management of the Congo Basin forests within the framework of the Central African Forests Commission;

- thirdly, sustainable water resource management in conjunction with the countries of the sub-region, members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Niger Basin Authority.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

COP21 is expected to address two issues.

The first is the steady degradation of forests in Central Africa. Such degradation will decrease the contribution of these forests to greenhouse gas reduction.

WE MUST SAVE THE CONGO BASIN FORESTS. WE MUST SAVE THE SECOND LUNG OF THE PLANET.

Our second concern is desertification, which is affecting the neighbouring countries of Lake Chad.

That vast expanse of water, which is absolutely indispensable to the life of the population and biodiversity, is gradually drying up. It has already lost 90% of its initial surface area.

LET US SAVE LAKE CHAD.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are here to seek ways to meet the expectations and hopes of our peoples. Therefore, let us show determination and political courage. Yes, let us demonstrate audacity and wisdom.

If we succeed, the Paris Conference will go down in history as the decisive moment which the world, in its quest for the survival of mankind, has been clamouring for.

Thank you.

Paris-Le Bourget, 30 November 2015

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