UN - Climate Change

Climate Change negotiation opens at UN

Article published on the 2009-09-22 Latest update 2009-09-22 15:16 TU

US President Barack Obama addresses the Summit on Climate Change at the United Nations
(Credit: Reuters)

With 100 days to go before the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, world leaders have gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday in an effort to break the deadlock on the text for capping emissions globally. While the stakes are high to find new text to replace the Kyoto Protocol, US President Barack Obama warned world leaders that "the hardest part of our journey is in front of us."

Obama also called on developing countries to take part in curbing emissions caused by global warming. His predecessor, George W. Bush, had refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol because he claimed it was unfair to for devloped countries to cut emissions while developing countries did not come under the same stringent measures.

"Yes, the developed nations that caused much of the damage to our climate over the last century still have a responsibility to lead. And we will continue to do so," said Obama.

The US House of Representatives have passed the first-ever national US cuts in carbon emissions, but the bill still must pass the Senate before it befores a law.

Obama is scheduled to receive Chinese President Hu Jintao on the fringes of the meeting and the United Nations General Assembly, which opens this week in New York.

Hu was expected to make a sweeping policy statement at the UN climate summit, but only mentioned that China would be cutting emissions by a 'notable margin.'

The Chinese premier called on developed nations to help developing countries, including island states, landlocked countries and Africa. He also suggested that those with technology share their expertise with countries that are behind.

One of the few concrete measures Hu outlined during his speech was that China plans to plant 40 million hectacres of trees to increase forest coverage.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting on Tuesday with a worse-case scenario of UN scientists, who say that the world has only 10 years to reverse the course of climate change. If steps are not taken, natural disasters could worsen.