Ban pushes Copenhagen agenda

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- World leaders need to agree on a new global climate change regime at an upcoming conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, top U.N. officials urged.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon laid out his agenda for success in a recent opinion piece in The New York Times.

"A successful deal must strengthen the world's ability to cope with an already changing climate," wrote Ban, adding that "support for adaptation is not only an ethical imperative; it is a smart investment in a more stable, secure world."

U.N. officials have been touting the goals of a new climate change regime set to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Ban said that developing countries need assistance in order to adapt to changing energy needs while industrialized nations need to recognize their obligations.

"We cannot afford another period where the United States stands on the sidelines," he said, referring to Washington's position on Kyoto.

Janos Pasztor, who directs Ban's climate change support team, welcomed moves by global leaders to embrace reforms.

"This is a good development as it is only governments who can make the deal and bring us success in Copenhagen," he said.

The comments come as world leaders prepare for a December conference in Copenhagen to agree on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The current agreement expires in 2012.