DUBAI, May 4 -- The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the two-dayAbu Dhabi Ascent summit on Sunday in United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, which aimsto catalyze political momentum for the UN climate summit due in September in New Yorkthis year.
In his opening speech addressing over 1,000 delegates from nearly all UN membercountries, Ban said "I count on representatives of governments, the private sector and civilsociety who gathered here in Abu Dhabi to explore international and multi stakeholderinitiatives with high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengtheningclimate resilience."
"It is time for action, as time is running against us," said Ban who said the effects of globalwarming such as the rise of temperatures, flooding or drought had already huge negativeimpact on economies, population, agriculture and infrastructure.
The Abu Dhabi Ascent summit aims to pave way for the UN climate summit on Sept. 23 inNew York which seeks to unite global efforts to fight global warming.
The efforts shall culminate in a global agreement on climate change in 2015 when theUnited Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) session is held inDecember 2015 in Paris. "I am confident that we will reach this ambitious goal," said Ban.
There will be no negotiated text or outcome in Abu Dhabi. Both the Ascent and the ClimateSummit are separate from but complementary to the UNFCCC negotiating process. TheAbu Dhabi Ascent summit also includes high-level private sector and civil societyparticipants. "Let us seize the moment now in Abu Dhabi and at the Climate Summit thisSeptember in New York. Success in these meetings can pave the way for the agreement weneed in Paris in 2015 and a sustainable future for all humankind," said Ban. （Editor：KongDefang、Yao Chun） Related reading
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