UN General Assembly debate ends, climate change remains major theme

New York - The United Nations General Assembly heard Tuesday the last speakers in the week-long debate that saw climate change as a major theme after a record 101 presidents and prime ministers gave support to a deal in Copenhagen. World leaders are to meet in the Danish capital in December to try and complete an agreement that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. 'All leaders said they want a deal and are prepared to work for it,' said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a press conference. 'This gives the negotiations vital political impetus.' Leaders from 163 countries held a climate change summit on September 22 at UN headquarters in New York to provide a 'solid foundation' to complete negotiations for a new Kyoto Protocol, Ban said. He called the summit a big achievement as negotiators doubted they would be able to complete the new text in December because of differences in ways to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and a host of other issues. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told the assembly on Tuesday that poor and rich countries should work out a transparent and equitable partnership to combat climate change. The current negotiations on a new protocol began last December in Bali, Indonesia, with the adoption of a road map for the discussion. Wirajuda called for focusing on the world's forests to fight climate change. 'We can launch a more successful and durable Green Revolution based on the same kind of partnership that gives developing countries sorely needed access to resources and technology,' he said. He said the partnership should provide for the massive investment needed in agricultural production and the building of agricultural infrastructure in developing countries. Grenada, a small Caribbean island, said it belongs to the most vulnerable nations on Earth that demand vital attention and assistance to survive climate change. The world's small islands have called for limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, with a drastic reduction in carbon emissions of more than 95 per cent by 2050 and mid-term reduction of 45 per cent by 2020 at 1990 levels. Developed countries have called for limiting temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050 with less drastic cuts in carbon emissions. 'We again call on the international community to stand in support of the most vulnerable,' said Grenada's Foreign Minister Peter David.