Climate change a global danger, Ban says

BALI, Indonesia, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Global leaders must work to advance climate initiatives that have teeth as the window of opportunity closes, the U.N. secretary-general said in Indonesia.

Nearly 100 environmental ministers from across the globe met at the U.N. Environment Program Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Bali, Indonesia.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the delegates that time was running out for a comprehensive climate initiative, his office said.

"Coherent and effective international environmental governance architecture can provide a foundation for human well-being for generations to come," said Ban. "I urge you to be bold and creative in putting forward new ideas."

The secretary-general said that an increased rate of consumption creates greater environmental risks. He lauded recognition of the need to curb global warming at the December climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, but said more work could be done.

"Coherent and effective international environmental governance architecture can provide a foundation for human well-being for generations to come. I urge you to be bold and creative in putting forward new ideas."

Climate issues came under fire when the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in January it made errors in reports saying the Himalayan glaciers could melt away by 2035, which the U.N. body used in its 2007 data on the affects of climate change.

Ban said "skeptics" were undermining climate initiatives, calling on delegates at the Bali summit to "agree that climate change is a clear and present danger."