22 November 2010: In his address to the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, US, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted deforestation, adaptation, technology, capacity building and the future of the Kyoto Protocol as areas that are “ripe for agreement.”

In his statement, which focused on three challenges — climate change, poverty and human beings in crisis — he noted that climate change is “the defining challenge of our times,” and stated that since he came to office, he has worked to “push climate change to the top of the global agenda.” While recognizing that the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the UNFCCC in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, did not meet the very high expectations that were built up around it, he stressed that the conference still achieved progress on a number of issues. Ban called for learning from Copenhagen, and warned against dreaming of “big overnight breakthroughs.” He noted that “truly global action on global problems requires patience and determination” and taking gradual steps. On the upcoming COp 16 in Cancun, Mexico, he underlined that, although he does not expect a comprehensive agreement to be reached, many issues are “ripe for agreement,” highlighting deforestation, adaptation, technology, capacity building and the future of the Kyoto Protocol. He concluded by stating that “the more we delay, the more we all will pay.” [Ban’s Statement]