The UN General Assembly began on Monday a two-day session on climate change, with speakers calling for the formation of broad partnerships by the international community to address the challenges of the issue.
The high-level debate, titled "Addressing climate change, the United Nations and the world at work," is meant to build on the momentum generated by the international climate conference in December on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, where delegates from nearly 190 nations agreed to adopt a blueprint to control global warming gases before the end of next year.
Speaking at the start of the meeting, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for concerted Action on climate change.
"If 2007 was the year when climate change rose to the top of the global agenda, 2008 is the time we must take concerted action," Ban said.
While the Bali conference delivered important progress on adaptation, technology and deforestation, the real work now begins with the agreement by all countries to launch negotiations on a new international climate change agreement by the end of 2009, Bansaid.
In this regard, Ban urged developed countries to take the clear lead.
"The more ambitious the commitment by developed countries, the more actions we can expect from developing countries. The more developing countries engage, the more ambitiously the developed countries will commit. This is the cycle we must embark on," he said.
The UN chief said the challenge is huge, noting that there is less than two years to map out emission limitation commitments, agree on essential action to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and mobilize the necessary financing and technological innovation.
Srgjan Kerim, president of the assembly, called for effective partnerships and a clear global strategy to address climate change comprehensively.
"The UN cannot address climate change alone. No one can," Kerim said, stressing the importance of collaboration in confronting global warming.
"Inevitably, we need as many actors as possible to get involved and unite in order to address its effects," he added.
The assembly president also appealed for a global strategy for the world body to respond to the obstacles posed by climate change.
"Many steps have already been taken by the Untied Nations and its member states," he noted. "We must now concentrate on streamlining the UN system's many programs and focusing resources where they will have the greatest effect."
Kerim called for attention to the economic aspirations of developing countries.
"The challenge is to find policies, instruments and technologies that can create low-carbon economies which promote sustainable economic growth and provide incentives for the individuals to change behavior."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged the United States to set "real and binding carbon reduction targets" that would contribute to a global struggle against climate change.
Bloomberg said the targets set by the United States, which leads the world in greenhouse gas production, are one of the preconditions for the world to reach an agreement on measures to address climate change.
The targets must be "ambitious but also achievable," he stressed, saying the United States should enact a tax on carbon emission so as to create relevant incentives.
During the first day of the event, other speakers, including representatives from the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies and media, also highlighted the importance of forging broad partnerships to address climate change.
A plenary session scheduled for Tuesday is expected to bring together delegates from 100 countries and organizations.
Source: Xinhua
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