Tuesday, 1 September 2009

BAN GETS FIRST-HAND VIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE’S EFFECTS IN ARCTIC RIM

Walking the Arctic ice rim today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon got a first-hand view of the impact of climate change, with less than 100 days remaining before the start of the United Nations conference where nations are set to reach a new agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Having departed the Norwegian capital, Oslo, yesterday, Mr. Ban made his way to the Svalbard archipelago, where today he visited research stations and met with scientists, who updated him on the latest science regarding ice-melting.

"I will try to deliver a clear strong message from my visit to the North Pole," he told reporters yesterday, underscoring that only 15 days of negotiations remain before the start of December's climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where countries are expected to wrap up negotiations on a new pact to go into effect when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period ends in 2012.

"Now is the time for decision-making," the Secretary-General stressed. "We must seal a deal in Copenhagen for a global, equitable and comprehensive deal for the future of humanity and the future of Planet Earth."
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