The world should not wait until next year to cobble together a new climate change pact, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday. The countries should aim for a meaningful breakthrough in Poznan, Poland, in December.
Delaying major advances until the end of 2009, when a Copenhagen summit will aim to finalize an accord to tackle rising global temperatures, may be ill-advised, Ban told diplomats and officials at a ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the U.N. climate panel. Ban said that the Poland meeting should serve as “a very successful bridge” for Copenhagen. He said it was imperative for the new U.S. government to play a leadership role in climate change for the international community to agree on strong emission cut targets. “Whoever may be elected as president of the United States, they may be in a better position to address and to lead this process.”