Renzi praises Italy on climate change

(supersedes previous)(ANSA) - Rome, November 30 - 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.