1. At the outset, the Group wishes to thank the Special Envoy for convening today’s briefing on the upcoming Climate Action Summit in September and the preparatory meeting in Abu Dhabi end of the month.

2. The Climate Summit comes at a critical moment for the multilateral efforts to address climate changes. The international community already agreed on what needed to be done, and planned how it will be done, now it is time for actions, delivering on commitments and transformation on the ground.

3. The impacts of climate change are being felt everywhere and are having very real consequences on people’s lives. But nowhere is this more true than in developing countries, in particular the poorest and most vulnerable among them.

4. As a group that stands at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change, we welcome the convening by the Secretary General of the Climate Action Summit. Further we acknowledge the participation of some of our members in the summit’s coalitions and as Co Leads. We believe such participation is important to ensure the interests of the developing countries as stipulated in the Paris Agreement are fully addressed.

5. At the same time, the Group believes that the preparatory process of the Summit should be member states driven. Therefore, the Group stresses the need for continued consultations with Member States, transparency, clarity, and inclusivity both in terms of participation in and work of the Summit, as well as within the coalitions, and in the initiatives highlighted during the Summit.

6. The Group welcomes the focus on concrete action to enhance implementation of NDCs, while stressing that NDCs include mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation. The Group stresses the importance of maintaining the nationally determined nature of NDCs in light of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of national circumstances.

7. The Summit should reflect this necessary balance between mitigation and adaptation, action and support, in accordance with the objectives, principles and provisions of the Paris Agreement, and give due consideration to the right to development. Adequate capacity-building, transfer of technology and financing support for developing countries are in this regard critical and the Group hopes that useful initiatives addressing these issues will be highlighted during the Summit, taking into account the urgent needs of the developing countries to adapt and build resilience.

8. We hope the Summit will provide impetus for urgent action in dealing with climate change within existing processes and for delivering on obligations and commitments towards the full implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted under the UNFCCC.

9. The Climate Action Summit will quite conveniently be held back to back with the SDG summit and the High level dialogue on Financing for development. These events are complementary and should be mutually reinforcing. This is an important opportunity to reflect our collective commitment and determination as the first generation that can end poverty and the last that can save the planet.

10. This year’s Summit on Climate Action must help generate momentum in the lead up to the COP25 in Santiago, and for the implementation of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement.

11. The Group will continue to engage actively and constructively as we collectively prepare for the Climate Action Summit.

I thank you