Minister Väyrynen: Finland actively involved in the development of climate services
Press release 226/2009
3 September, 2009
On 3 September, when speaking at the World Climate Conference 3 held in Geneva, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen underscored Finland’s obligation to take part in the development of Global Framework for Climate Services. Väyrynen underlined Finland’s high meteorological expertise and technical competence, offering excellent opportunities to participate in the cooperation.
“The most important means of adjusting to climate change is enhancing the climate services and prediction. They play an essential role in prevention of natural catastrophes and, in the long run, in the development of economy as a whole. Finland has been an active participant in this cooperation and will continue its active involvement,” Väyrynen underscored.
The Minister highlighted especially the position of developing countries, which should be at the core of the cooperation.
“The developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change and their chances of adjusting to its consequences are the weakest. That is why Finland has also itself invested in dissemination of know-how and expertise by having been involved in climate-related development co-operation with more than 80 countries over the past 20 years,” the Minister continued.
In Geneva, Väyrynen also met Helen Clark, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, UNDP, with whom he discussed the cooperation between Finland and the organisation, the Transatlantic Partnership for Sustainable Development, and Finland’s national Wider Europe Initiative related to development cooperation.
Additional information: Advisor to the Minister Päivi Nevala, tel. +358 40 753 4375