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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 gathered to discuss global warming and how to combat it. 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. 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."
Mr Ban said the United Nations was the appropriate forum to negotiate a global deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. 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 impetusPolitical 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.
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