Climate change brings world leaders together

Jordan News.Net
Tuesday 22nd September, 2009

Nearly 100 world leaders have met at a summit at the United Nations to discuss views on a global climate treaty, which will be thrashed out in Copenhagen later in the year.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the unprecedented summit by telling leaders they hold the fate of future generations, in their hands.

He urged action for a successful deal in Copenhagen, including ambitious reduction targets from industrialised countries and commitments on emissions from developing ones.

He said it should also include financial and technological support for emerging countries.

US President Barack Obama, In his first speech before the United Nations, said the United States fully understands the serious threat of climate change and is ready to respond.

He said the US would continue to invest in alternate forms of clean and renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, and would reduce carbon pollution.

He also pointed to efforts to pass important climate legislation in the US Congress.

China's President Hu Jintao announced plans to cut emissions significantly by 2020, and to vigorously develop renewable and nuclear energy.

The United States and China are each responsible for about one-fifth of carbon emissions worldwide.

One of the most upsetting calls for world action was from President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, who said his island nation would be sunk by rising sea levels if Copenhagen talks fail.

He said: "If things go business-as-usual, we will not live, we will die. Our country will not exist. We cannot come out from Copenhagen as failures. We cannot make Copenhagen a pact for suicide. We have to succeed and we have to make a deal in Copenhagen."

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