Ban optimistic on climate change measure

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The political will to embrace a comprehensive climate change agreement at a December conference in Denmark is growing by the day, the top U.N. official said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been stumping for a climate change measure to replace the Kyoto Protocol ahead of a climate change summit that kicks off Dec. 7 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Several observers point to stalled legislation in Washington and delays from Beijing as a sign that a comprehensive agreement at Copenhagen is unlikely.

"To the contrary," said Ban, "we can, and I believe we will, reach a deal in Copenhagen that sets the stage for a binding treaty as soon as possible in 2010."

The secretary-general points to an agreement by the European Union to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 25 percent by 2020 as cause for optimism. Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese officials at a recent meeting in Beijing agreed to work to address issues on the agenda for the Copenhagen summit.

"All this is good news," the secretary-general said. "As I say, it shows a new momentum building by the day."

Ban said industrialized nations need to invest roughly $10 billion toward low-emissions technology and curbing deforestation in the developing world in order to make climate change reform a truly global effort.

"Let us together take a giant step toward a better future, beginning in Copenhagen," he said.