A/HRC/20/7 12. The statement of the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres, was read by the Secretariat. She expressed UNFCCC’s intent to more actively participate in the next meeting, and welcomed receiving the summary report of the seminar in advance of COP18. 13. A statement by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, was read by Barbara Ruis, Legal Officer. The Executive Director recognized that a healthy and clean environment is a fundamental prerequisite to the enjoyment of human rights and noted that environmental degradation is impacting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable at a disproportionate rate. The consequences of climate change include forced displacement, challenges to food security, impacts on water resources management, and obstruction of the right to development. Up to 12 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product is already at risk from existing climate patterns. Despite these complications, combating climate change should be perceived as an opportunity for generating jobs and economic growth. 14. The Executive Director reflected on a number of open questions to be addressed, including the need for and potential content of a right to a healthy environment; the role and duties of private actors with respect to human rights, climate change and the environment; and the operationalization of international human rights obligations as a tool to implement multilateral environmental agreements. 15. Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, stated that we are in the midst of a complex, multidimensional crisis that involves the environment, development and equity. This crisis must be addressed in a coherent manner and as a package. In addition to working to deliver social and economic development, developing countries are being forced to divert resources to recovering from natural disasters and are contributing to the mitigation effort. The World Bank has estimated that mitigation alone for developing countries will require US$140-175 billion per year, supplemented by another US$265-565 billion in associated financing. Furthermore, adaptation in developing countries will require an estimated US$100 billion per year, although Mr. Khor explained that this figure underestimates certain environmental aspects and fails to adequately consider damage and reconstruction costs. A further US$182-505 billion will also be required annually to facilitate the required technology transfer from developed to developing countries. 16. The solution therefore requires the linking of human rights and equity to the environment and the economy. Developed countries must continue to take the lead because of their historical responsibility for climate change and because of the higher capacity they were able to develop through low-cost energy and fossil fuels. Meanwhile, developing countries have obligations to their own citizens for mitigation, adaptation, disaster management and reconstruction, and economic development through low-emission economic and social models. The solution will require negative emission by developed countries or significant transfer of technology and finance to developing countries. Mr. Khor concluded that it is vital to reaffirm equity as the basis of the solution; create an international enabling environment that supports and assists developing countries that switch to new economic and technological models; and recognize the rights of individuals and communities to sustainable development, environmental security, international solidarity as well as all of their human rights. 17. The final keynote address was delivered by the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo via Skype. Dr. Naidoo explained that the extraterritorial nature of climate change impacts requires a peak in global emissions by 2015 and a reduction of emissions by at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. Dr. Naidoo alleged that the failure of countries to make meaningful and binding commitments to such reductions, including those countries with a historical responsibility for the largest share of emissions, marks a political failure on the part of those that have a responsibility to lead. Furthermore, 6