(supersedes previous)Premier
Matteo Renzi said at the UN COP21 climate change conference
Monday that Italy has been proactive and done more than it is
sometimes given credit for on climate change.
"We have to get away from the rhetoric that Italy doesn't
do enough," the premier said as the international conference of
147 world leaders kicked off in Paris.
"it has cut emissions by 23% since 1990, it has a
$4-billion investment plan from now till 2020, our firms are on
the front line, from ENI to ENEL. Italy has a lot to say and do
in this sector," he said.
Reaching an international accord, he said, won't be easy.
"There were moments of heated debate over lunch," he said.
"It won't be easy to reach an accord, but it is crucial that we
do. Italy is doing its bit but the real problem is that not
everyone is behaving in the same way on a global level."
He said "we must make an effort to help others reach these
results".
Renzi added "the most binding accord possible (is needed),
otherwise it risks being written in the sand".
The center-left premier added his government is not worried
about Italy's GDP in the wake of the November 13 Islamist terror
attacks in Paris.
"Italy's GDP will grow, not shrink," he said. "We have no
fears on Italian GDP...however we are very concerned about the
planet".
Renzi earlier said "there is a challenge that concerns us
all: the future of the planet. We must realise that we are at a
crossroads. Italy wants to be among the protagonists of the
fight against selfishness, on the side of those who choose
non-negotiable values like the defence of our mother Earth."
Also on Monday, Renzi met with British Prime Minister David
Cameron had a bilateral meeting on the fringes of the
conference.
As COP21 opened, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said
world leaders must find a way to contain the Earth's rising
temperature to under two degrees, and that a binding climate
accord is necessary to "guarantee peace and international
security".
"The world's future is in your hands," added Ban, calling
on the leaders present to show vision and courage.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
