MaximsNewsGREEN: United Nations: 22 September 2009 - UNTV: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presses world leaders gathered at the UN for the largest ever summit on climate change, to speed up their action on global warming and preserve the planet for future generations.
With the clock ticking towards this Decembers climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, world leaders gathered today (22 September) at the United Nations to find ways to speed up their action on global warming and preserve the planet for future generations.
Todays summit at UN Headquarters in New York is the largest ever on climate change, with more than 100 heads of State and government in attendance.
The day-long event opened with the recitation of a portion of late astronomer Carl Sagans Pale Blue Dot by actor Djimon Hounsou, followed by a film both written and narrated by children from around the world.
Ban, who visited the Arctic ice rim earlier this month and saw first-hand the rapid impact of climate change, countered claims that addressing global warming comes at too high a price tag and said that those who say that tackling climate change is too expensive are wrong and that the opposite is true as we will pay an unacceptable price if we do not act now.
Rajendra Pachauri, who chairs the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), echoed the Secretary-Generals words saying that if world leaders do not act on time, they will become leaders of failed states as they would be failing in their sacred duty to protect this planet.
President Barack Obama of the United States said that mankind has been slow to respond to or even recognize the magnitude of the climate threat and added that while the US is also to be blamed this is a new day and the United States has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in history.
Obama warned that difficulty is no excuse for complacency and each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet.
President Hu Jintao of China said that we should make our endeavor on climate change a win-win for both developed and developing countries, and a win-win for both the interests of individual countries and the common interest of humanity."
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said that pointing fingers would be counterproductive and urged for shared responsibility of a mitigation and adaptation strategy that leaves no one behind.
Earlier at a press conference, President Evo Morales of Bolivia called for the creation of a Climate Tribunal to defend the environment and determine which countries or transnational enterprise cause harm to the environment.
Todays summit will also feature a UN Leadership Forum Luncheon to be addressed by former US Vice-President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore which will mark the first time that global political leaders, as well as top business and civil society officials, will meet on such a large scale at the UN.
At another press conference, Gore said that he remains hopeful that we will have sufficient progress in the legislative process prior to Copenhagen to allow the US to play a very constructive leadership role and assist the world in getting an agreement.
Todays summit takes place just under 80 days before the start of the Copenhagen conference, where nations are aiming to wrap up negotiations on an ambitious new agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions that would go into effect in 2012 when the Kyoto Protocols first commitment period expires.
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton busts a move in Africaby moekasomo612 views
Natural elements such as volcano's, and earthquakes create over 99% of the carbon you breath. Trees and plants DEPEND on this carbon you want to get rid of. The earth is in its own cycle of life. Why would anyone think giving more money to the elite is going to solve this problem??? When we finally get energy efficient would the tax be dropped? Ofcourse not. Why not tax the countries and areas who have earthquakes and volcano's? Because that would be equally ridiculous.
ateamofone 4 months ago
This scam is a huge power grab as well as a huge tax increase. The sad thing is this treaty will do next to nothing to effect the environment. It will however make Al Gore a very rich man. It's not about republicans vs. democrates. It's about corporatism vs. freedom
minisparkles 2 years ago