September 27, 2010

DARA’s global Climate Vulnerability Report was announced the flagship communication tool of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) during their meeting held at the time of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Forum was established in November 2009 as a grouping of the world´s most vulnerable states with the aim of allowing them to speak with one voice in climate change negotiations.

The meeting was convened by the Government of Maldives with the purpose of discussing progress in the UNFCCC climate change negotiations and agreeing on common steps Forum countries could pursue together in the Climate Change Summit to be held in Cancun, Mexico, in November and in the longer-term.

Former President of Costa Rica, José María Figueres

DARA was represented during the meeting by the former President of Costa Rica, Jose María Figueres.

The event was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, in the Maldives’s capacity as outgoing chair of the Climate Vulnerability Initiative, together with the President of Kiribati (incoming Chair), and the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh H.E. Dr. Mohamed Quayes. It was attended by 50 Forum members, donor states, NGOs and UN representatives, including several ministers, heads of state and other high representatives of most vulnerable countries. Other supporting organizations of this effort, including the DARA partner, the Club of Madrid, represented by Former Irish President Mary Robinson, were also present.

This is the second time that this group of countries comes together since first launched by H.E. President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, prior to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, in November 2009. During the meeting, Bangladesh announced that it would host the main Climate Vulnerable Forum summit in 2011. The Forum also intends to be represented at the leadership level at the upcoming climate summit to be held in Cancun, Mexico in order to ensure renewed urgency and commitment to the interests of vulnerable countries is injected into multi-lateral efforts and public understanding.

DARA’s report is part of the Climate Vulnerable Initiative (CVI), a new effort to improve support to vulnerable populations suffering the consequences of climate change.