ABU DHABI // UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has praised the UAE’s efforts to tackle climate change, ahead of a major summit in the capital next week.
“The UAE is emerging as a leader of a diverse energy economy,” said Mr Ban.
“I count on other countries to follow the UAE’s example and to pursue the many untapped economic, social and environmental opportunities of mitigating global climate change.
“This is the defining challenge of our time. The longer we delay, the more we will pay. The sooner we act, the greater the benefits to people and the planet.”
Mr Ban made the comments before announcing he will take part in the two-day Abu Dhabi Ascent starting next Sunday.
Attended by high-level UN officials, the meeting is organised in preparation for the Climate Summit this year in New York.
“The Climate Summit is a critical opportunity to inspire and scale up the actions that will lead us towards a low-carbon, sustainable future,” said Mr Ban.
“Abu Dhabi Ascent will play a pivotal role in mobilising action that will allow us to address climate change.”
Both meetings aim to build political agreement around key steps for reducing man-made greenhouse emissions ahead of an important UN meeting in Paris in December next year, when a global agreement on how to stop climate change is to be signed.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
