Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, challenged stake-holding fence-sitters at a climate conference in Abu Dhabi which the secretary-general hosted with the United Arab Emirates government, at which over 1,000 international participants gathered.
Ki-moon’s Climate Summit is set to begin September 23 in New York. Ki-moon encouraged national leaders to be “at the head of the race,” stating, “That is how we will support progress at the climate talks in Lima this year so we may have a meaningful agreement in Paris in 2015.”
The Abu Dhabi conference charted new routes for strengthening climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and was the first international meeting to make conclusions based on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent reports.
Ki-moon also warned that climate strategy is integral for any government or major business. “Don’t get left behind. Don’t be on the losing side of history,” said the secretary-general.
Ki-moon also toured the Middle East’s largest solar power facility, Shams 1, which can produce electricity sufficient for 20,000 households. The plant, considered to be a commercial success by its owners, was commented on by Ki-Moon: “By harnessing the power of the sun, the United Arab Emirates is cutting greenhouse gas emissions, generating jobs and a laying the foundation for low-carbon economic progress.”
By Sid Douglas
Source: