UNITED NATIONS, New York (IRNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki here on Monday addressed a High-Level Event, entitled: ""The Future is in Our Hands: Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change"".

The full text of his address is as follows: ""In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, ""Honorable co-chairs; excellencies, distinguished delegates; ladies and gentlemen; ""It is indeed an honor for me to attend this High-Level Event of the United Nations and share with your excellencies the position of my government on climate change and the way forward. I thank the secretary general for initiating this event and agree with him that climate change is one of the most complex, multi-faceted and serious threats the world faces today. As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto protocol, my government continues to cooperate with the international community to tackle the problem of climate change and is committed to implement the provisions of these two multilateral legal instruments.
""Climate change as a global challenge deserves proper attention and requires international cooperation, a collective response, and comprehensive and practical solutions to the benefit of present and next generations of mankind as well as the environment. In this regard, I would like to make several comments.
""The United Nations system and particularly UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol remain the most appropriate mechanisms for intergovernmental negotiations on climate change with a view to explore ways and means to meet this global challenge. We are of the view that climate change can not and should not be considered in isolation and regardless of the other environmental challenges, or irrespective of the developmental pillars of sustainable development. Besides, the relationship between climate change, economic growth, and poverty eradication as well as their mutual impacts are very well recognized.
""To tackle this challenge of global nature, we should attach great importance to the internationally agreed principles; such as the principle of ""common but differentiated responsibilities"" as a basis for our future negotiations. Along this line, I would like to refer to the historical responsibility of industrialized nations for producing greenhouse gas emissions. We take note with concern that greenhouse gas emissions in most developed countries are still rising at an alarming rate, while there is no hope for dramatic reduction or mitigation efforts in the near future. Industrialized countries should take the lead and spare no efforts in mitigating the emissions. The industrialized countries, particularly those countries which are releasing high scale of emissions and have not yet joined Kyoto Protocol, should seriously undertake their responsibilities. It is time to translate the words and slogans into action.
""On the other hand, it is predictable that emissions in developing countries would inevitably grow as they need to consume more energy to pursue their economic and social development plans. I should like to stress that the adverse ramifications of climate change and the impacts of response measures on developing countries must be taken fully into consideration in any envisaged legal framework for the post Kyoto era aimed at tackling the problem of climate change.
""Honorable co-chairs
""Mitigation and adaptation constitute two indispensable pillars of any effective response strategy for combating climate change. We believe the collective efforts for mitigation and adaptation should be made in a way that, not only do not hamper, but also do support the implementation of national development strategies and plans in developing countries and facilitate the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals. Given the huge gap between climate change mitigation requirements and the existing financial resources, an increase in funding by donor countries is essential, without prejudice to funding the other environmental challenges. Enhancement and facilitating the access of developing countries to cleaner, advanced and appropriate technologies, related to mitigation and adaptation, is critical for enabling these countries to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.
""Excellencies;
""Ladies and gentlemen;
""I agree with the assessment of the secretary general, as indicated in his Background Note that global warming and sea-level rise would continue for centuries and a global strategy for adaptation would still be essential. Any effective adaptation strategy, in our view, requires long-term planning, sustainable financing, and technology support. In addition, in order to succeed, adaptation measures must be integrated into national sustainable development strategies, implemented and measured.
""As climate change is a global phenomenon, having mostly emerged as a by-product of the polluting development pathways of the North, adapting to its adverse effects should also be adequately financed by industrial countries. To make adaptation more effective and sustainable, we must move beyond reducing vulnerability and aim at enhancing resilience to consequences of climate change. This will require comprehensive adaptation strategies that would cover almost all economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, land use, coastal zone management, industry, etc. However, there is a huge gap between financial needs for such broad adaptation measures and the existing resources. I propose that the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol be expanded and its resources be scaled up in order to make it more effective in funding adaptation costs in developing countries. In this regard, special needs and concerns of developing countries must be taken into account.
""Distinguished delegates;
""Unfortunately, natural disasters, including those disasters related to climate change, are on rise in terms of frequency, severity, economic loss, and human casualties. Hence, disaster risk reduction and building the resilience of communities and nations to disasters; as well as strengthening the national and regional capacities of the developing countries for rapid response remain one of the most important challenges we face at present and in the future.
""In conclusion, I would like to announce the willingness and readiness of my government to participate actively in negotiations during the Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change in Bali with a view to exploring necessary arrangements for post Kyoto era.
""I thank you, honorable co-chairs.