UN urges countries to move on climate change
(CCTV.com)
Updated: 2008-02-14 09:38
Updated: 2008-02-14 09:38
The UN General Assembly is urging member countries to immediately help control climate change.
A two-day climate conference in New York aims to shape the UN's overall policy, and support negotiations toward a new global climate treaty in 2012.
The UN is calling on member states to follow up on December's Bali meeting, when nearly 190 nations agreed to adopt a blueprint to control global warming gases before 2009.
This is to ensure a smooth transition to a new regime, when the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
Srgjan Kerim, President of 62nd UN General Assembly, said, "The stage is now set to put in place a comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement. However, the combined efforts of all stakeholders are necessary to comprehensively tackle climate change effectively. Many countries cannot wait until the effects of mitigation targets have an impact. We need both targets and immediate practical actions that can help the most vulnerable adapt to climate change."
The president also said it's important that member states quickly agree on principles for a strategic policy framework, to steer UN activities on climate change.
In key reports last year, UN scientists warned of severe consequences if sharp cutbacks are not made in emissions of the industrial, transport and agricultural gases blamed for global warming.
Potential consequences include rising seas, droughts, severe weather and species extinction.
To avoid the worst case scenario, scientists say greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by at least half by 2050.
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