UN concludes summit on climate change with call for action

The United Nations concluded on Tuesday a day-long summit on climate change, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging world leaders to act speedily to ensure a successful outcome at the upcoming UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December, Xinhua reported.
   "I was heartened to hear that a growing number of leaders are prepared to move beyond purely national perspectives to global leadership," Ban told world leaders at the closing session of the summit.
   "You have undertaken to remain engaged until a deal has been sealed in Copenhagen. And you have agreed to give guidance to your negotiators to work toward an ambitious, effective and fair deal in Copenhagen," he said.
   Nearly 100 heads of state and government participated in the summit, the largest-ever gathering of world leaders to discuss climate change.
   By convening the event, the secretary-general hoped to mobilize the political will and generate the momentum needed to reach an ambitious agreement at the Copenhagen conference.