U.N. chief urges bold leadership on climate change

ABU DHABI , United Arab Emirates, May 5 (UPI) -- Speaking at a climate change conference Monday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for persuasive political arguments to change the attitudes of governments.

“Climate change is an issue for all. I need you to help us push back against skeptics and entrenched interests,” he said. The meeting, named the “Abu Dhabi Ascent,” includes over 1,000 participants, including 100 government ministers, and is the first global convocation on climate change to draw on recently-released reports of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which found consequences are already being felt, although a low-carbon future for the world is still possible.

“Now is the time for visionaries, and those who are prepared to act, to step forward. I am urging all to raise the level of ambition…Empower and motivate your national leaders,” he said.

Ban also called for new alliances to be built to move climate action to the commercial marketplace.