There is no doubt that we are facing a global challenge in the shape of climate change. A decade ago when the international community reached agreement on the Kyoto Protocol, incidences of extreme weather conditions or shrinking glaciers were not necessarily making the news headlines outside of the ?environmental? community. But as we have come to realise its full implications, climate change is now recognised as one, if not the gravest challenges of our time.

Climate change threatens the prosperity, even the very stability, of our societies if we do not succeed in bringing it under control. There is a great urgency to design and, crucially, implement measures that help to prevent climate change from reaching dangerous levels. Indeed, some experts are arguing that the world has already reached these dangerous levels and that global warming will accelerate as a consequence.

Despite the frightening scientific evidence we must not freeze in front of the challenge. We must act ? and act swiftly. Fortunately, there are ways to combat climate change ranging from big decisions that involve Governments, the international community and international corporations, to small things by which each of us can contribute in our daily lives. What is needed is global determination and willingness to reverse the current trend to protect our planet.

<B>Vulnerable and under stress</B>

The European Union has taken this issue to its heart. The EU leaders has committed to reducing its overall emissions to at least 20% below1990 levels by 2020, and is ready to scale up this reduction to as much as 30% under anew global climate change agreement if other developed countries make comparable efforts. It has also set itself the target of increasing the share of renewables in energy use to 20% by 2020 in order to continue the transition to an energy efficient, low-carbon economy in Europe. The commitments the EU has taken go further than those made by any other region or country.

Mauritius is impacted too by climate change. As a small island state it is highly vulnerable to cyclones and coastal erosion, both serious side effects of global warming. Rainfall levels are also expected to fall as global weather patterns alter, putting increasing strain on the limited water resources of the island. The consequences of climate change may in the first instance be felt differently in Europe and in Mauritius but the root cause is the same. That is why it is imperative that we talk about climate change, the threats it poses and the actions we can take to manage it.

I hope that the Green Day will serve as a platform for increasing awareness of climate change and that it will encourage all of us to do more to protect the Earth. A greener future is in our hands: nou lavenir, li vert! I hope to see many of you at Caudan on Saturday this week.

<B>Claudia WIEDEY</B> <I>Head of the European Commission Delegation</I>

Samedi vert en famille au Caudan Waterfront</B>