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Focus on new technologies, green jobs and carbon markets can help tackle the ‘triple crisis’

Poznan - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Kemal Derviş today commended negotiators at the Financing for Development conference in Doha, Qatar, for heeding the call of the UN Secretary-General to come to an agreement that reaffirms international commitments to tackle global poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

He stressed that the outcome document from Doha, which reaffirms developed countries’ commitment to provide 0.7 percent of their GNP as aid to developing countries by 2015, is an essential step in resolving what he called the ‘triple crisis’ of financial turmoil, global poverty and climate change. He urged countries to focus on the opportunities inherent in the crises as they turn their attention to the UN climate-change negotiations underway in Poznan.

“We must treat these crises as common rather than separate challenges,” he said. “Scaling-up public spending can help us achieve both economic recovery and progress on climate change, if we focus on the right things, such as renewable energy and public transportation.  At the same time, a global climate deal that establishes an effective carbon market and price of carbon, as well as mechanisms for resource flows to developing countries would generate significant financing for green growth and poverty reduction,” he said.

Mr. Derviş emphasized the role of the United Nations in supporting countries in their efforts to tackle these inter-linked crises. “UNDP invests in the ‘how’ of development. That means helping to develop the capacity of states to move their economies onto greener pathways, to cope with volatility and uncertainty, and to take concerted action to reduce poverty.”

“We will continue to work with low-income countries to ensure their voices are clearly heard around the negotiating table, their needs are resolutely reflected in any new financial system, and their capacity is strengthened to access and use development finance to reduce poverty and grow their economies sustainably.”

For more information:

• United Nations Climate Change Conference - Poznan, Poland, 1-12 December 2008
• Fast Facts: Doha Conference on Financing for Development (.pdf)