U.N.'s Ban Ki-moon: "Yes, we can"

[acidhead]

http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2427

Ban Ki-moon: Yes, we can

The critical climate change conference may seem frighteningly close, but UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is optimistic.

Rie Jerichow

26/10/2009 16:40

In an op-ed article published by The New York Times, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges member states to reach a compromise ahead of a December meeting in Copenhagen. He praises Japan, Norway and the EU for showing readiness to curb emissions, but calls for political will among others.

"The elements of a deal are on the table. All we require to put them in place is political will. We need to step back from narrow national interest and engage in frank and constructive discussion in a spirit of global common cause," the Secretary General writes.

In particular, he emphasizes the important role of the US.

"We cannot afford another period where the United States stands on the sidelines. An engaged United States can lead the world to seal a deal to combat climate change in Copenhagen. An indecisive or insufficiently engaged United States will cause unnecessary — and ultimately unaffordable — delay in concrete strategies and policies to beat this looming challenge," Ban Ki-moon writes in The New York Times.

With limited time left, the Secretary General raises four questions:

"Can we seal a comprehensive, equitable and ambitious deal in Copenhagen that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature rise to a scientifically safe level? Can we catalyze clean energy growth? Can we help to protect the most vulnerable nations from the effects of climate change? Can we expect the United States to play a leading role?"

His answer to all these questions is the same as given last week in another op-ed piece co-authored by Democratic Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham: "Yes, we can."