1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,960 Dear Representatives of the United Nations, 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,460 of national, subnational and local 3 00:00:05,460 --> 00:00:09,410 governments, of media, civil society, 4 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:13,410 science and research. I am very proud 5 00:00:13,410 --> 00:00:16,360 that COP 23 will soon be taking place in 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,369 the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. 7 00:00:19,369 --> 00:00:23,360 And I am very pleased that Bonn, the German 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,510 city of the United Nations, will receive the 9 00:00:27,510 --> 00:00:30,330 global public and media attention it deserves. 10 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:32,920 Important work has been done here in the 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,960 past twenty years towards tackling some of 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,000 the most pressing challenges, including 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,500 the fight against climate change. 14 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:47,500 The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is 15 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:51,900 pleased to welcome conference participants from 16 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:56,910 all over the globe to Bonn. And we are happy to 17 00:00:56,910 --> 00:01:01,000 support the COP 23 in any possible way. 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,400 North Rhine-Westphalia offers unique 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,400 opportunities to observe what climate 20 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,780 protection and the transition process to clean 21 00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:15,780 and renewable energies can look like in 22 00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:19,600 practice. In this context, North Rhine-Westphalia 23 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,610 is hosting a broad range of side events 24 00:01:23,610 --> 00:01:27,710 to COP 23. Delegates and participants 25 00:01:27,710 --> 00:01:31,710 will also have the opportunity to witness 26 00:01:31,710 --> 00:01:36,330 the economic, ecological and social transformation 27 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:39,990 of the Ruhr region, with its long 28 00:01:39,990 --> 00:01:43,000 industrial tradition of coal mines 29 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,000 and steel mills, towards sustainablity. 30 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,720 We will offer excursions to showcase 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,550 the innovative approaches throughout the region, 32 00:01:55,550 --> 00:01:59,340 demonstrating how the region is tackling global 33 00:01:59,340 --> 00:02:03,000 challenges. Visitors might take a closer look at 34 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,270 a wide range of projects 35 00:02:06,270 --> 00:02:11,000 addressing the reduction of greenhouse gases through 36 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,069 energy conservation – as well as through the 37 00:02:14,069 --> 00:02:20,000 upscaling of renewable energies and energy effectiveness. 38 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,250 I invite all participants to 39 00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:28,000 seize this opportunity! And I am 40 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:33,129 convinced that the participants will leave 41 00:02:33,129 --> 00:02:37,000 Bonn and North Rhine-Westphalia with good 42 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,500 memories and the intention to come back. 43 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:44,579 I look forward to seeing you.