23 September 2011: Speaking during the general debate of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), President of Suriname Desiré Delano Bouterse called on the international community to realize a speedy implementation of the Cancun agreements on the Special Climate Change Fund and the Adaptation Fund.
Noting the particular vulnerability of its country to the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise and increased water scarcity, Bouterse stressed the need for parties at the upcoming 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC in Durban, South Africa, at the end of 2011, to reach concrete agreement on limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. [UN Press Release]