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Secretary-General encourages leaders to attend climate change summit
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is encouraging government leaders from the around the world to attend the summit level of the Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen on 17 and 18 December.
Ban Ki-moon
In a statement issued on Thursday, he welcomes the invitation issued today by Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Denmark for Heads of State and Government to attend the closing days of the conference.
Mr. Ban believes that direct Head of State and Government involvement is essential for governments to reach agreement on the core issues at the heart of a global climate change deal.
The Secretary-General also believes it is essential to maintain political momentum at the highest level and from all sectors of society.
He says he is optimistic that an ambitious, fair and effective climate deal can be reached at Copenhagen.
A deal in Copenhagen will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, setting targets for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations
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