Climate negotiations on ‘right track,’ but momentum must be maintained – Ban

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 08:07

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced optimism today that negotiations for an ambitious new climate change agreement are on the “right track” after he wrapped up the largest-ever high-level gathering on the issue, but also warned that momentum must be maintained in the run-up to December’s conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, to ensure success.

Mr. Ban said he felt a “sense of optimism, urgency and hope” emerge from today’s summit at UN Headquarters in New York, which drew some 100 heads of State and government, that governments are determined to ‘seal a deal’ in Copenhagen.

“Many leaders spoke passionately and with grave concern of the devastating impacts of climate change their countries are already experiencing,” he said. “All of you support the urgent need to step up action and raise the financial resources needed to make this happen.”

Tuesday’s event, he stressed at a press conference, has harnessed much-needed political will by focusing world leaders’ attention on the urgent need for action on global warming.

“Your words have been heard around the world. Let your actions now be seen. There is little time left. The opportunity and responsibility to avoid catastrophic climate change is in your hands.”

In a summary of today’s talks among world leaders, Mr. Ban noted that there was convergence on five key issues, including enhanced measures to help the most vulnerable and poorest adapt to the impact of climate change as well as setting emission reduction targets for industrialized countries.

Heads of State and government also agreed on the importance of developing countries taking mitigation actions with necessary support; scaling up financial and technical resources; and setting up an equitable governance structure.

During the day-long event, leaders acknowledged the “scientific imperative” to curb emissions by at least 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050, with many referring to the importance of a 2-degree Celsius limit on global temperature rise.

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