Climate summit draws thousands to Bali

BALI, Indonesia, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Nearly 10,000 delegates from 180 countries are in Indonesia for a summit on climate change and its effect on ecosystems worldwide.

The 12-day Bali conference aims to build on a recent United Nations report that warns of devastating consequences if the countries can't agree on a new climate change pact, Bernama reported Sunday.

"The talks are aimed at setting the necessary wheels in motion," said a statement Sunday from the conference secretariat, urging ratification of a new agreement by 2012 when the current phase of the Kyoto Protocol ends.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to address the delegates at the end of the first week of discussions, Bernama reported.