Secretary-General, in Message for Climate Change Summit, Urges Business

 

To ‘Lead by Example’, Drive Innovation towards Low-Carbon Growth

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the second China Summit on Caring for Climate, in Beijing, China today:

Chairman Fu Chengyu, Chairman of Global Compact China Network; Mr. Li Mingxing, Director General of China Enterprise Confederation; distinguished business leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to send greetings to the second China Summit on Caring for Climate.  I thank the Global Compact Network China for once again hosting.

The effects of climate change are already widespread and costly to people, economies and ecosystems.  We need Government leadership to limit global temperature rise, build resilience and steer the world to a meaningful climate agreement in Paris in 2015.

But business, too, has a crucial role to play.  That is why I invite you to join me for two important milestones this year.  First, my Climate Summit in New York on 23 September.  And second, the Caring for Climate Business Forum in December at COP [Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity] 20 in Lima, Peru.

Bring your ideas and commitments to both and lead by example.  Drive innovation for low-carbon growth.  Foster collaboration that rewards climate-sensitive performance.  Help us harness the power of business for a sustainable future. 

I wish you a successful meeting.

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For information media • not an official record