National leaders at UN Summit call for stepped-up action to fight climate change

Leaders of a number of countries addressing the United Nations Summit in New York today called for action against global warming, urging all concerned to ratify international treaties designed to stem the problem.

"There would appear to be an emerging consensus among scientists that each year we are witnessing increasing numbers of catastrophic events linked to global warming: hurricanes, floods and droughts," said Slovenia's President, Janez Drnovšek, adding that this was a prime example of the interdependence of all people. "Under the aegis of the UN we must therefore work together in the world to find more effective solutions and to contribute to raising the general awareness of people, and especially politicians."

His Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco said Monaco had started the process of acceding to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains binding targets for achieving greenhouse gas emissions. He also called for implementing global plans to prevent and reduce the risks of natural disasters.

"Global warming and sea level rise continue to threaten us," said the President of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note, calling on all countries that have not done so to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. "Without such global actions to mitigate climate change and arrest sea level rise, our national efforts and sustainable development will be rendered meaningless, and my people will become environmental refugees."

Meanwhile, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, was one of many speakers who voiced sympathy for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This disaster and others, like the tsunami, had prompted the international community to act in solidarity in order to prevent further loss of life, he said, emphasizing that eradicating poverty requires a united approach involving all players, both rich and poor.

Also addressing the Assembly at the meeting, which ended at 9 p.m., were the Vice-President Ahmad Zia Massoud of Afghanistan; Roberto De Almeida, President Of the National Assembly of Angola; Joschka Fischer, Deputy Federal Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany; Jean Asselborn, Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg; Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister For Foreign Affairs of Bhutan; Kassymzhomart Kemelevich Tokaev, Minister For Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan; Youssouf Ouédraogo, Minister For Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso; and the head of Eritrea's delegation.