United Nations Radio

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg met today to officially launch Climate Week NYC.

Secretary-General and Mayor Mike Bloomberg

The event, which will take place from September 21 to September 25, will see a variety of climate change events held at the United Nations Headquarters and around New York City in the lead up to the Copenhagen Conference.

The week's marquee event will be a climate change summit on September 22 at the UN which the Secretary-General has invited all heads of state to attend.

"I'm counting on all leaders to attend again, whether they are from countries with the highest emissions or from those suffering most acutely from the effects, including those small island developing countries, landlocked countries and least developed countries. The goal of the Climate Change [Summit] is to mobilize the political momentum needed to seal the deal in Copenhagen on a fair, effective and scientifically ambitious new climate framework. We have a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time. So far, the response by the world's governments has been less than sufficient. I hope that working together, the world's leaders will signal their determination to resolve all final obstacles."

The Secretary General stressed that the clock was ticking and that now was the time to act on climate change.

"According to the world's leading scientists, we have less than ten years to halt the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences for people and the planet."

Mayor Bloomberg said that one of the themes of the week was how not only governments, but individuals, could help curb carbon emissions.

"I have painted to roofs of my house white, that will save energy because in the summer it reflects the sun's heat away and reduces the need to air-condition the building. I've converted most of the bulbs in my house to energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs and these things are very small investments for very big paybacks and they're all easy to do."

Nick Baker for United Nations Radio.

(duration: 2'32")