Q: Do you believe it is the UN's place to set environmental requirements for its member states?
SG: The United Nations provides fora for multi-stakeholders and discussions among inter-governmental decision makers such as the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and UNEP –United Nations Environment Programme. Decisions by those fora are taken by countries themselves, usually by consensus. They are not imposed on one by another, but there are some treaties and conventions that, once they are concluded, they are binding on member states and state parties to the conventions and treaties. The United Nations will continue to provide such a forum and will lead the discussions on climate change in the international community.
Q: Do you believe that, ultimately, global warming will be solved through a grassroots movement, or through public policy?
SG: As I stressed in my speech, global warming is an issue of particular urgency today. Before it is too late, we must take action for taking measures beyond 2012, when it expires. Therefore, it needs concerted action by the governments, by the international organizations led by the United Nations, and also by active support and awareness - enhance the awareness by civic groups like NGOs [Non-Governmental Organizations]. This will not be done by a single country, a single individual - but we need to have all concerted actions, including yourselves. Therefore, I would urge all of you, and leaders of civic communities, environmentalists, to try your best efforts to enhance the awareness of this urgency and importance of this issue, so that the policy makers of the international community will take this issue more seriously.
Q: What do you foresee as the biggest hurdle for governments and civilians respectively in surmounting global warming?
SG: I think that one of the biggest hurdles in surmounting global warming may be to change everyone's habits. One UN programme called 'Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production' –this is one way we can address this challenge. It requires conscious and consistent effort by all consumers and producers alike, to undertake lifestyle changes that will mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental consequences which are known to have direct impact on global warming. Therefore, we need again, concerted action –measures both by consumers like us and by the oil producers and manufacturers which really cause these gas emissions.
Q: How specifically does the UN plan to work with its member nations to counteract and stop the effects of climate change?
SG: As you know very well, the United Nations has initiated a very important framework convention, known as UN Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] - that is the central multilateral framework combat climate change. The UN has a role to raise awareness, agree on common agendas and concerns and enhance international cooperation, particularly towards vulnerable countries –to both mitigate causes and abate the adverse effects of the climate change. We will continue to do so, by adopting decisions on policy options and possible actions to be taken on a priority basis. As Secretary-General, I have also presided over two or three policy committee meetings with all my senior advisers to discuss these matters and I have also begun my consultation with the leaders of the major international players, including the GA [General Assembly]. As I told you, when I attend the G-8 Summit meeting in June, which will be held in Germany, I will also very seriously discuss this matter with global leaders.
Q: What is your opinion of the United States' stance on the Kyoto Protocol?
SG: Every member state takes its decision based on their national interest or national circumstances, which may constrain or affect their positions on many issues, including global warming. The United States is an active state party to UNFCCC, but everybody knows the position of the US Government. But I have a sense that active discussions within the US Government and Congress regarding the Kyoto Protocol - this kind of active debate has helped to raise its profile and public interest on climate change so far. I hope that the United States, while they have taken their role in innovative technologies as well as energy, promote cleaner energies and also take the lead in these very important and urgent issues which the international community must look beyond the Kyoto Protocol for the common prosperity of human beings in the future.