OREANDA-NEWS. Speech delivered by Akinwumi A. Adesina, PhD. President African Development Bank Group - September 6, 2015 Paris, France

Your Excellency, Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic;

Your Excellency, Mr. Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Minister of the Environment of Peru;

Honourable Ministers, distinguished participants.

Allow me first of all to thank the French Government for its boldness, its leadership and its long-term vision for the crucial challenge of climate change as well, of course, for its hosting of COP21.

Climate change is the most important development challenge of our age. The data suggest that the results of COP21, from a fair perspective, should lead to more effective cooperation to meet the challenge of climate change. COP21 presents a unique opportunity for a binding agreement to limit carbon dioxide emissions and to look to the prospect of partnerships in the fight against the negative effects of climate change. The voice of Africa is crucial to ensure the success of COP21. And the voice of Africa must be heard.