U.N.‘s Ban seeks strong climate pact, fears sea rise

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for swifter work on a climate treaty, saying inaction could spell economic disaster and a rise in sea levels of up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) by 2100.

"We cannot afford limited progress. We need rapid progress," he told a 155-nation climate conference in Geneva of negotiations on a new United Nations deal to combat global warming that is due to be agreed in December in Copenhagen.

"Climate change could spell widespread economic disaster," Ban said, urging action to promote greener growth.

"By the end of this century, sea levels may rise between half a meter and two meters," he said.

That would threaten small island states, river deltas and cities such as Tokyo, New Orleans or Shanghai, he said.

His sea level projection is above the range of 18 to 59 cms (7-24 inches) given in 2007 by the U.N.'s own panel of experts.

Their estimates did not include the possibility of an accelerated melt of vast ice sheets in Antarctica or Greenland.Ban said greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, were still rising fast.

"Our foot is stuck on the accelerator and we are heading toward an abyss," he said.

Just back from a trip to see thinning Arctic sea ice off Norway, Ban said he hoped a summit of world leaders he will host in New York on September 22 would give a new push to Copenhagen.

"I am really trying to raise a sense of urgency," he told a news conference after speaking to an audience including about 20 leaders, mostly of developing nations such as Tanzania, Bangladesh and Mozambique, and ministers from up to 80 nations.

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Source: Reuters