COMMENTS BY KEVIN RUDD, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
HUA HIN, THAILAND - 24 OCTOBER 2009
With less than six weeks before Copenhagen, it is clear that more progress is needed before we can reach a substantive agreement to tackle global climate change.
That is why I welcome the initiative outlined today by Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark.
As host of the Copenhagen Conference, Prime Minister Rasmussen has called on leaders to increase their engagement in the negotiations over the next six weeks.
Leaders' engagement is critical to increase political momentum towards Copenhagen; to capture commitments already made in an ambitious and comprehensive political agreement at Copenhagen; and to guide ongoing negotiations towards a rapid completion of a global treaty.
I have said on many occasions that the road to Copenhagen is steep and there is a long way to go.
As Denmark is the chair of the upcoming Copenhagen conference, it is important that governments around the world extend their support to Prime Minister Rasmussen as friends of the chair.
That is why it is important that we use all meetings of leaders, including the East Asia Summit this weekend, to build momentum towards Copenhagen. Over the next two days I will continue discussions with leaders about how we can work towards a successful conference in December.