United Nations General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim convened on 11 and 12 February 2008, at UN Headquarters in New York, a thematic debate entitled "Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work ".
Two interactive panel discussions took place on 11 February in the Trusteeship Council Chamber:
- Rising to the Challenge: Parnerships on Climate Change
- Responding to a Multifaceted Challence: The UN at Work
On 12 and 13 February 2008 there was a discussion open to all in which Member States made statements.
PROGRAMME
STATEMENTS
- Opening Statement by Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly
- Statement by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Address by Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York
- Keynote address by Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group
- Statements by Member States and Observers
- Concluding remarks at the closing of the thematic debate by Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly
WEBCAST
- Opening session and panel discussions (11 February 2008)
- Plenary Sessions of the General Assembly (12-13 February 2008)
DOCUMENTS
- Summary of the Thematic Debate
- Report of the Secretary-General -Overview of United Nations Activities in relation to Climate Change
- Background Document [PDF]
LETTERS
- Letter to all Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations including the informal summary of the proceedings of the thematic debate " Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work". (3 March 2008)
- Letter to all Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations regarding the thematic debate entitled " Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work" including a Background Paper and Programme. (11 January 2008)
- Letter to all Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions to the United Nations regarding the thematic debate entitled " Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at Work " on 11 and 12 of February 2008. (10 December 2007)
CARBON NEUTRAL
The thematic debate on climate change is carbon neutral. Over the two day period, the carbon dioxide emissions of the United Nations Headquarters conference venue and the emissions from air travel to bring panelists, special guests, heads of state and government, ministers, and representatives of specially invited NGOs to the debate, have been off-set. This was achieved by investing in a biomass fuel project in Andhra Pradesh, India. The project reduces carbon emissions by displacing fossil-based power generation with renewable energy from agricultural waste that would otherwise rot or burn producing carbon dioxide or methane emissions. In addition to providing power stability to the electric grid and help reduce the ever-increasing demand and supply gap of electricity in the region, this high quality renewable energy project provides significant local social, economic and environmental benefits. Further details on carbon offsetting methodology and the carbon offset project can be found on the information note.
LINKS