Ban invites world leaders to "unprecedented" UN climate change summit

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 10:09

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon extended yesterday, on the 23rd of June, an invitation to heads of State and government to attend an “unprecedented” global summit at the United Nations to spur action towards reaching an ambitious climate change pact later this year. “Climate change is the greatest challenge facing this and future generations,” he said at a press conference in New York. “Emissions are rising and the clock is ticking.”

The high-level meeting will be held at UN Headquarters on 22 September, just over two months before the start of the climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where countries are expected to wrap up negotiations on an agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The Secretary-General called on all world leaders to take part in the event and “make their commitment and give clear instructions to [their] negotiators on climate change.” “Now is the time for action,” he emphasized.

The UN can raise awareness of the issue of global warming, but ultimately, Mr. Ban said, it is the world’s parliaments, presidents, prime ministers, governors and mayors who must take bold measures to tackle climate change. To date, their response has been “less than sufficient,” he said, voicing hope that cooperation will allow them to “seal the deal” on the new climate pact, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol whose first commitment period ends in 2012.

The summit in question will occur on the eve of the start of the General Assembly’s high-level debate. It will also take place during Climate Week NYC, an initiative to last from 21-25 September, unveiled yesterday at the same press conference by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Source: UN News, 23.6.2009