Explanation of Position by Ambassador Rick Barton, United States Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, on Agenda Item 53(d) Sustainable Development: Protection of Global Climate for Present and Future Generations, in the Second Committee of the Sixty-fourth Session of General Assembly

Ambassador Rick Barton
U.S. Representative on the UN Economic and Social Council 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

December 4, 2009

AS DELIVERED

Mr. Chairman, The United States is pleased to join consensus on the resolution “Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind” in these final days before the important climate talks in Copenhagen, which President Obama will attend on December 9.  Climate change is a global challenge that demands a global solution, not just about limiting carbon emissions, but also about sustainable economic development with low-carbon economies.

At the same time, the United States wants to reaffirm the principle that the United Nations regular budget should not be used to subsidize independent and self-sustaining treaty bodies and conventions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  We support the objectives of the UNFCCC, and will continue to do so through our voluntary contributions.

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