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UN's Ban urges action on climate UN chief urges action on climate
(29 minutes later)
The UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, has warned that urgent action is needed to tackle climate change. UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to act quickly to deal with climate change.
He told world leaders at a special UN meeting on global warming in New York that a breakthrough needed to be made in international climate negotiations. He told a gathering of heads of state in New York that a global agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions must be negotiated through the UN.
Leaders and representatives of 150 countries gathered to discuss global warming and how to combat it. Leaders and representatives of 150 countries are gathered to discuss global warming and how to combat it.
The meeting came just days after scientists said that more Arctic ice melted this year than ever before. Us President George W Bush is not attending. He will host his own meeting on climate change later in the week.
'Devastating impact' Mr Ban told the unprecedented gathering: "If we do not act now, the impact of climate change will be devastating," he said.
Mr Ban told the unprecedented gathering that "the time for doubt has passed". "We have affordable measures and technologies to begin addressing the problem right now. What we do not have is time."
"If we do not act now, the impact of climate change will be devastating," he said. Mr Ban said the United Nations was the appropriate forum to negotiate a global deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists say that the Arctic ice cap is melting faster than ever"We have affordable measures and technologies to begin addressing the problem right now. What we do not have is time."
He said the United Nations was the appropriate forum to negotiate a global deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
US President George W Bush was not present, however. Instead, he is hosting a meeting of 16 "major emitter" countries in Washington on Thursday and Friday.
The attendance of 150 countries including 80 heads of state and government makes Monday's meeting the most high-level UN gathering on climate change.The attendance of 150 countries including 80 heads of state and government makes Monday's meeting the most high-level UN gathering on climate change.
Political impetusPolitical impetus
The BBC's environment reporter, Matt McGrath, says this meeting will not solve the problems of climate change but UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hopes it will give impetus to negotiations on global warming that are due to take place in Bali, Indonesia, in December. BBC environment reporter Matt McGrath says Mr Ban hopes the meeting will give impetus to negotiations on global warming due to take place in Bali, Indonesia, in December.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Ban said: "Bali must advance a negotiating agenda to combat climate change on all fronts, including adaptation, mitigation, clean technologies, deforestation and resource mobilisation." Our correspondent says the large turnout of heads of state, plus California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US Vice-President Al Gore, is likely to reassure the UN that politicians are ready to commit to legally binding reductions on greenhouse emissions.
Our correspondent says the large turnout of heads of government, plus California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US Vice President Al Gore, is likely to encourage the UN that politicians are ready to commit to long-term, legally binding reductions on emissions of greenhouse gases.
Mr Bush, who does not support binding emission targets, will not take part in the formal discussions but will be joining Mr Ban and other key leaders for dinner.Mr Bush, who does not support binding emission targets, will not take part in the formal discussions but will be joining Mr Ban and other key leaders for dinner.
He is due to host a meeting of 16 "major emitter" countries in Washington on Thursday and Friday.