UN Chief Praises Climate Summit

23.09.2009 BBC

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says a one-day climate change summit in New York has given fresh impetus to efforts to tackle global warming.

He says the momentum has shifted in favour of reaching a deal at December's crucial climate meeting in Copenhagen.

Earlier, the summit heard that China will increase efforts to improve energy efficiency and cut its CO2 emissions.

The pledge prompted former-US vice-president and environmental activist Al Gore to praise China's leadership.

Chinese President Hu Jintao gave no details about the measures, which should mean emissions grow less quickly than the economy.

China is the world biggest polluter, according to some measurements.

The US, the world's other major emitter, said China's proposals were helpful but figures were needed.

About 100 leaders attended the talks, ahead of the Copenhagen summit which is due to approve a new treaty.

At the close of the meeting, Mr Ban said: "While the summit is not the guarantee that we will get the global agreement, we are certainly one step closer to that global goal today."

He praised world leaders for their desire to tackle climate change.

"Climate change is a defining challenge of our time, he said.

"Today's summit signals a determination of world leaders to address this challenge and reach a substantive deal in Copenhagen."

Figures requested

Negotiators for the Copenhagen summit are trying to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol to limit carbon emissions.

The Chinese president said his country would curb its carbon emissions per unit of Gross Domestic Product by a "notable margin" by 2020 from the 2005 level.

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