17 February 2009: In an op-ed published in the Financial Times, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former US Vice-President Al Gore call for using the economic stimulus that is needed to tackle the global economic crisis to launch a new green global economy.

They urge governments to expand investments in energy efficiency, renewables, mass transit, reforestation and other projects, rather than carbon-based infrastructure and fossil-fuel subsidies. They also call for “pro-poor” policies, including increased development assistance and investments in agriculture in developing countries. Lastly, they stress the need for negotiators to reach a robust climate deal at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December 2009. They add that Copenhagen will provide “the green light for green growth,” and state that, as of now, climate negotiations need to be dramatically accelerated and given attention at the highest levels. [The Article]