25 May 2011: In a message delivered by El‑Mostafa Benlamlih, UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, to the 16th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined areas in which joint action by the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement “is essential,” namely building a safer world, responding to climate change and fighting extreme poverty.

On climate change, Ban underscored that “we still have a long way to go in meeting the scientific bottom line for effective action.” He called on governments to implement the Cancun Agreements, and agree on the future of the Kyoto Protocol and on ways to engage developing countries in an emerging global framework at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa. He also stressed the need to accelerate national action to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience. Ban further noted the role of the UN in supporting these efforts, and stated that the Durban Climate Change Conference and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNSCD or Rio+20) “will be critical.” The 16th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement is taking place in Bali, Indonesia, from 25-26 May 2011. [Ban’s Statement]