Climate change 'as dangerous as war'
Friday, 02 Mar 2007 00:46
Global warming is changing the Arctic and Antarctic
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Climate change is as much a danger to the world as war, the secretary general of the United Nations has said.
In his first address on the subject, Ban Ki-moon pledged to make global warming the focus of talks with G8 leaders in Germany in June.
He called for a new generation of younger people to shepherd the Earth better than his own.
"We are all complicit in the process of global warming," Mr Ban said. "Unsustainable practices are deeply entrenched in our everyday lives.
"But in the absence of decisive measures, the true cost of our actions will be borne by succeeding generations, starting with yours," Mr Ban told a UN International School conference in New York.
"Unfortunately, my generation has been somewhat careless in looking after our one and only planet. But I am hopeful that is finally changing," he added.
The UN chief went on to say that protecting the environment was beyond the scope of individual countries.
As such, only 'concerted and coordinated' international action would be sufficient.
"The natural arena for such action is the United Nations. I am strongly committed to ensuring that the United Nations helps the international community make the transition to sustainable practices."
The G8 is comprised of the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
The UN predicts temperatures will rise by between 1.8 and 4.0 degrees Celsius this century.