COP21 Carbon Pricing Panel media event

Closing statement by Angel Gurría,

Secretary-General, OECD

Le Bourget, France

30 November 2015

(As prepared for delivery)

 

 

Distinguished Leaders,

 

Today, world leaders have called on all countries and businesses to put a price on carbon. I salute that call. The OECD has long advocated for strong, credible, predictable prices on carbon as the cornerstone of cost-effective emissions reductions!

 

We have heard about our progress, but we need to do more. Recent OECD work shows countries are not achieving reductions fast enough to reach even their own targets. And that is before we even get to the issue of the global 2 degree goal. We are still on a dangerous collision course with nature!

 

The potential political hurdles to carbon pricing can become opportunities when the funds are redirected to advance more inclusive social and economic agendas.

 

The time to seize these opportunities is now!