‘Incalculable’ suffering without climate deal -UN Chief
SKOREA: UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned Tuesday of “incalculable” human
suffering if the world fails to reach a deal at crucial climate change
talks this December.
The United Nations is orchestrating the talks in the Danish capital
in hopes of securing an agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions
blamed for global warming.
“As we move toward Copenhagen in December, we must seal a climate
change deal that secures our common future,” Ban told an environmental
forum in Incheon city west of Seoul.
The UN secretary general, who began a visit to his homeland Sunday,
warned of catastrophes if the world fails to work out a deal.
Ban said unchecked climate change would intensify drought, floods and
other natural disasters and bring water shortages and malnutrition —
aggravating tensions and social unrest and even sparking violence.
“The human suffering will be incalculable,” Ban said.
He said he was confident the world could avert catastrophe but time
was running out. “We have the power to change course but we must do it
now.”
Ban said industrialised countries should lead the way by committing
to mid-term targets of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 25 to 40 percent
below 1990 levels.
He urged developed countries to provide “sufficient, measurable and
verifiable” technical and financial support to developing nations to
achieve the common goal. Ban also urged developing countries to take
“measurable, reportable and verifiable” actions to reduce emissions.
Incheon,Tuesday, AFP
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