The 16th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP16) represents a historic opportunity to move from discourse to actions on climate change, stated Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary and new President of the Conference, after taking office.

During the opening ceremony of the COP16/CMP6 she added that at this juncture, we should make concrete, verifiable and viable commitments. These commitments will necessarily call for flexibility from each one of us… For the first time in many years it will mean that we will break out from our paralysis and move towards a resolution of this global challenge.”

She said that adaptation, financing, transfer of technology and reduction of emissions derived from the destruction of forests will be the aspects that will receive the most attention from the 192 delegates that will deliberate and negotiate during the next two weeks in Cancun.

Espinosa warned that the credibility of international organisms will be at stake during the COP16, but she also recognized that no individual decision will be able to reach an ultimate solution for the challenge that mankind faces.  “This is rather a process which calls for innumerable actions in the most diverse areas by all countries.”

Lykke Friis, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy and President of the previous Conference, said she was confident that the participants of this edition will go beyond what was done in Copenhagen, and will demonstrate the world that their good intentions did not freeze in the cold streets of the Danish capital.

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