This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7009793.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
UN chief urges action on climate | UN chief urges action on climate |
(20 minutes later) | |
UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to act quickly to deal with climate change. | UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to act quickly to deal with climate change. |
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. | 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 are gathering to discuss global warming and how to combat it. | |
US President George W Bush is not attending. He will host his own meeting on climate change later in the week. | |
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: "If we do not act now, the impact of climate change will be devastating," he said. |
"We have affordable measures and technologies to begin addressing the problem right now. What we do not have is time." | "We have affordable measures and technologies to begin addressing the problem right now. What we do not have is time." |
name="top"> class="bodl" href="#map"> Click here for a graphic of world positions on climate change | |
Mr Ban said the UN was the appropriate forum to negotiate a global deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. | |
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 impetus | Political impetus |
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. | 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. |
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 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. |
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. | He is due to host a meeting of 16 "major emitter" countries in Washington on Thursday and Friday. |
Return |