20 September 2011: Speaking at the Leaders’ Dialogue on Climate Change on the eve of the High-level Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on world leaders to show greater commitment to achieving success in global negotiations on limiting emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and strengthening adaptation measures.

Ban underscored the need for governments to build on the Cancun Agreements, noting that numerous countries are “making impressive progress” in the areas of forestry, energy efficiency, and disaster preparedness. He highlighted that these national actions make economic sense and enhance the health and well-being of the people.

He appealed to world leaders to “help us to achieve success in Durban” at the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC, stressing the need for a clear plan on the future of the Kyoto Protocol and ambitious emission reduction pledges, and noting that “developed countries must take the lead in this effort, but all countries must do their part.” Calling on world leaders’ committment to agreement at COP 17 and at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) in Brazil next year, he underlined the need for “new alliances … that will make sustainability the rallying point for action in the 21st century.” [UN Press Release]