Climate change tops UN chief’s talks with Bolivian President

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed climate change today with Evo Morales Ayma, the President of Bolivia, which recently hosted a major civil society conference on the issue.

Before a private meeting with the Bolivian leader, Mr. Ban met with Mr. Morales and representatives from civil society organizations that participated in the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, held from 19 to 22 April in the city of Cochabamba.

In a message sent to the conference, the Secretary-General had called on all governments, businesses and citizens of the world to give the Earth the respect and care it deserves, and emphasized that the wise management of the Earth’s resources must be an integral part of efforts to reduce poverty and hunger and improve health and human well-being.

Mr. Ban told Mr. Morales that he was pleased that the conclusions of the Cochabamba conference had been submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the one universal forum where all nations and peoples come together to resolve climate issues.

He added that the voices of civil society and indigenous peoples must be heard, according to information provided by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

In addition, he welcomed all initiatives that can contribute to a comprehensive, equitable and effective global response to climate change, which the Secretary-General has described as the “defining challenge of our era.”