Ban to discuss climate change and development goals during trip to Seattle

The subjects of climate change and the world’s continuing efforts to achieve the social and economic targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be high on the agenda when Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travels to the United States city of Seattle next week.

Mr. Ban is scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Sunday for a three-day visit in which he will meet with local leaders, civil society groups, the private sector and community representatives to discuss climate change and environmental and economic sustainability, his spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters today.

The Secretary-General will also meet with Bill and Melinda Gates, whose philanthropic foundation bearing their names has worked with the UN on efforts to obtain the MDGs by the target date of 2015.

Ms. Okabe said the focus of the meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Gates will be on advancing food security and global health, especially maternal, newborn and child health.

While in Seattle Mr. Ban will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Washington and deliver a lecture on the world’s common future in the face of climate change.