UN Chief: We Are Heading Towards an Abyss

UN Chief: We Are Heading Towards an Abyss

~ Rapid progress is needed in climate talks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told some 150 governments gathered at the World Climate Conference

UN chief Ban Ki-moon told a meeting of some 150 governments on Thursday that time is running out for a new climate deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The Copenhagen talks in December are looming and little real negotiating time is left "to resolve some of the most complex issues," the UN Secretary-General told the World Climate Conference. "We need rapid progress."

Only limited progress in the talks has been made to hammer out a new accord to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on reducing the gases blamed for global warming. Meanwhile, climate change is advancing.

"Our foot is stuck on the accelerator and we are heading towards an abyss," said Ban, warning that climate change could spell widespread economic disaster.

He noted that he had just visited the Arctic and was alarmed by what he saw...

"...[W]e are certainly going to face a dire crisis if not a catastrophe across the world," he told the conference.

The climate conference in Geneva is aimed at providing ways for the world to cope with global warming that will occur because of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, regardless of what the Copenhagen meeting achieves.

On Thursday the delegates in Geneva approved the creation of a Global Framework for Climate Services to improve climate forecasts. Among its aims is to make sure that early warnings for tsunamis and hurricanes reach everybody and that farmers in remote African regions know about upcoming droughts and floods.


for complete article:
AP/Michael von Bülow
2009-09-04
http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2021