Ban Ki-moon calls on governments to invest in low-carbon industries
(Baonghean.vn) - The United Nations Secretary-General said that sound energy investment and healthy civil society movements, such as campaigns to reduce fossil fuel trade, are crucial for a climate change agreement at the Paris conference.
| Ban Ki-moon: "I encourage citizens to take action on climate change through peaceful and democratic means." |
Governments and businesses around the world need to make wise choices and invest in low-carbon energy, gradually replacing fossil fuels, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. He said climate change is happening faster than expected, the transition to clean energy must also accelerate.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Mr Ban Ki-moon said that past slow progress in tackling climate change had spawned a powerful civil society movement, including a fast-growing campaign to reduce fossil fuel sales. He encouraged citizens to step up action on global warming.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon also said that, with a papal encyclical on climate change due to be released in June, he welcomed the addition of Pope Francis' voice to the debate. Mr. Ban stressed that reducing world poverty was closely linked to tackling climate change. "I have made the issue of climate change one of my top priorities since I took office in early January 2007," Mr. Ban said. "This is a defining issue of our time."
“I have called on all levels of society to make the right choice and invest in the low-carbon path,” he said. “Over the next 15 years, the world will make a major investment in new infrastructure with renewable energy.” However, he said the transition to renewable energy was accelerating as businesses became increasingly aware of advances in technology and falling costs. “We will see a rapid pace of growth with this change in investment patterns,” he said.
Mr Ban confirmed that Pope Francis, whom he met last week, would speak at a UN meeting in New York in September. He added: "I look forward to the Pope's message on this subject."
Phuong Thao
(According to The Guardian)
