Friday, 23 June 2000 Media Statement

Hodgson to Warsaw for climate change meeting

Minister of Energy Pete Hodgson leaves New Zealand tomorrow for Warsaw, Poland, to represent New Zealand at international ministerial meetings on climate change and democracy.

The meeting, involving about 36 ministers from countries party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is one in a series of intergovernmental meetings concerned with formulating the rules and requirements under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Mr Hodgson chairs the Government's ministerial committee on climate change.

While in Warsaw Mr Hodgson will also attend a Ministerial Conference on the Community of Democracies, on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff. The meeting, supported by the United Nations, aims to assist emerging democracies by identifying best practices and forming an agenda for international cooperation. Mr Hodgson is an Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Itinerary:

Saturday 24 June: depart New Zealand.
Sunday 25 June: arrive Warsaw.
Monday 26, Tuesday 27 June: Ministerial Conference on the Community of
Democracies.
Wednesday 28 June: briefing for UNFCCC meeting.
Thursday 29 June: UNFCCC ministerial meeting. Depart Warsaw.
Saturday 1 July: arrive New Zealand.

ENDS

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