UN climate chief talks about advantages of green economies

SHOTLIST 1. Wide of United Nations Environment Programme conference 2. Representative of Cameroon delegation speaking 3. Delegates listening 4. Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Yvo de Boer talking with people outside conference hall 5. Close-up of de Boer talking 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: "I think it''s also the discussion here about the green economy. I think that many people don''t believe in the green economy, I think many people think it must be impossible to become richer and to become greener at the same time. And the only way to solve that I think is by creating a climate change regime which means real advantages for developing countries. If you can''t show that there are real advantages then it''ll never happen." 7. Cutaway of delegates inside conference hall 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: "Legally binding is a difficult discussion. I mean if a country signs a target under a legally binding agreement and it doesn''t achieve the target, are you going to arrest the president?" 9. Wide pan of interior of conference hall STORYLINE Developing countries need to be convinced that there are "real advantages" to developing a green economy, otherwise an international agreement on climate change will never happen, the United Nations climate chief said on Thursday. Yvo de Boer, who announced last week he would resign July 1, said developing countries could benefit economically with the right approach to tackling climate change, by promoting environmentally friendly technologies that help reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. "Many people think it must be impossible to become richer and to become greener at the same time," said de Boer. "The only way to solve that I think is by creating a climate change regime which means real advantages for developing countries. If you can''t show that there are real advantages then it''ll never happen." De Boer said that there were incentives for developing countries that will allow them to act on climate change but also meet their national economic development goals. He was speaking on the sidelines of an annual UN conference of environmental ministers. The conference is being held on the Indonesian island of Bali, where de Boer oversaw a historic agreement to start climate talks in 2007. De Boer warned that industrialised and developing countries are not likely to reach a treaty this year on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, which have sparked fears of weather-related disasters. He said there was not enough time to recover from the disappointing summit in December in Copenhagen, where world leaders failed to agree on a legally binding climate pact. Bickering between rich and poor countries over emissions cuts and financial assistance undermined the talks and forced them to settle on a voluntary plan. More than 190 nations will reconvene in Cancun, Mexico, later this year for another attempt to reach a binding agreement to keep the Earth''s average temperature from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above levels that existed before nations began industrialising in the late 18th century. UN scientists have said any temperature rise above that figure could lead to catastrophic sea level rises threatening islands and coastal cities, the extinction of many species of animals and plants, and the alteration of agricultural economies of many countries. De Boer said more time was needed to establish a framework of mitigation steps, along with financial and climate change aid that can convince developing countries to support a new deal. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c8cdebc2d63ba5369412d3de609aa668 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork