24 February 2010: In a message to the 11th Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), taking place in Bali, Indonesia, 24–26 February 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Ministers of Environment and environment experts to reject the recent attempts by climate sceptics to derail negotiations by exaggerating shortcomings in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report.

He highlighted the recent launch of a High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing and informed that he would soon launch a High-level Panel on Global Sustainability. Underlining that “the window of opportunity to preserve our natural capital is diminishing rapidly,” Ban stressed the need for improved international governance of environment and development to close the gap between the aspiration for environmental sustainability and achievements. He called on participants to tell the world that they unanimously agree that climate change is “a clear and present danger” and that they are continuing negotiations under the UNFCCC. Ban also urged all parties to remain engaged, to increase the level of ambition and to focus on implementation while negotiations continue. [UN Press Release] [The Statement]