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Bid to jump-start climate talks Ban calls for action on climate
(10 minutes later)
About 100 world leaders are meeting at the UN in New York to try to revitalise talks on climate change. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for urgent action on climate change, saying negotiations on reducing emissions were proceeding too slowly.
He said failure to reach agreement at December's climate talks in Copenhagen would be "morally inexcusable".
He was speaking at a UN meeting attended by about 100 world leaders in New York to revitalise the talks.
Attention is likely to focus on Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected to unveil new steps to tackle emissions.Attention is likely to focus on Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected to unveil new steps to tackle emissions.
The meeting comes two months ahead of a summit in Copenhagan aimed at approving a global climate change treaty. The summit in Copenhagen is aimed at approving a global climate change treaty.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting with a call for urgent action, saying negotiations on reducing emissions were proceeding too slowly.
Negotiators are trying to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol to limit carbon emissions.Negotiators are trying to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol to limit carbon emissions.
Chinese targetsChinese targets
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Tuesday's meeting an attempt to inject momentum into the deadlocked climate talks. Mr Ban called the meeting an attempt to inject momentum into the deadlocked climate talks.
ANALYSIS Shirong Chen, BBC China analyst Change from Beijing is partly a reaction to international criticism as China becomes the world's biggest polluter.ANALYSIS Shirong Chen, BBC China analyst Change from Beijing is partly a reaction to international criticism as China becomes the world's biggest polluter.
The country's rapid economic growth has created demand for more energy and fuel. There is a growing need for Beijing to provide clear answers on what is being done to deal with the problem.The country's rapid economic growth has created demand for more energy and fuel. There is a growing need for Beijing to provide clear answers on what is being done to deal with the problem.
Image-conscious Chinese officials want to be seen as co-operative internationally and accept that China must become part of the solution to major global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change. China's climate policy shiftImage-conscious Chinese officials want to be seen as co-operative internationally and accept that China must become part of the solution to major global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change. China's climate policy shift
"Your decisions will have momentous consequences," he told the assembled leaders.
"The fate of future generations, and the hopes and livelihoods of billions today, rest, literally, with you," he added.
According to the BBC's UN correspondent, Barbara Plett, discussions have stalled because rich nations are not pledging to cut enough carbon to take the world out of danger, while poorer countries are refusing to commit to binding caps, saying this would prevent them from developing their economies.According to the BBC's UN correspondent, Barbara Plett, discussions have stalled because rich nations are not pledging to cut enough carbon to take the world out of danger, while poorer countries are refusing to commit to binding caps, saying this would prevent them from developing their economies.
China's role is crucial, because it is both an emerging economy and a big polluter, our correspondent says.China's role is crucial, because it is both an emerging economy and a big polluter, our correspondent says.
The UN's chief climate change negotiator, Yvo de Boer, says he expects an important announcement from Beijing during the meeting.The UN's chief climate change negotiator, Yvo de Boer, says he expects an important announcement from Beijing during the meeting.
"China domestic policy is already very ambitious but yes I do expect something dramatic," he said."China domestic policy is already very ambitious but yes I do expect something dramatic," he said.
UN MEETINGS TUESDAY (all times GMT)Climate change:1300 - UN chief Ban Ki-moon's addresses open session1315 - US President Barack Obama's address, followed by China's leader Hu JintaoMiddle East:1430 - Obama talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu1500 - Obama meets Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas1530 - trilateral talksWEDNESDAY1300 - General debate begins1330 - Obama's speechTHURSDAYNuclear non-proliferation:1200 - Obama chairs UN Security Council meeting UN Assembly: Key Issues Big week for Obama at UNUN MEETINGS TUESDAY (all times GMT)Climate change:1300 - UN chief Ban Ki-moon's addresses open session1315 - US President Barack Obama's address, followed by China's leader Hu JintaoMiddle East:1430 - Obama talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu1500 - Obama meets Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas1530 - trilateral talksWEDNESDAY1300 - General debate begins1330 - Obama's speechTHURSDAYNuclear non-proliferation:1200 - Obama chairs UN Security Council meeting UN Assembly: Key Issues Big week for Obama at UN
President Hu Jintao is expected to announce "carbon intensity targets" aimed at making Chinese industry more efficient, so that less carbon is produced per unit of energy generated.President Hu Jintao is expected to announce "carbon intensity targets" aimed at making Chinese industry more efficient, so that less carbon is produced per unit of energy generated.
China has already leapfrogged the United States to become the world's biggest wind power market, and is a growing force in solar power - and analysts say President Hu may advance the country's renewable energy targets even further.China has already leapfrogged the United States to become the world's biggest wind power market, and is a growing force in solar power - and analysts say President Hu may advance the country's renewable energy targets even further.
But the BBC correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville, says it is unlikely that the Chinese will agree to a cap on their carbon emissions.But the BBC correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville, says it is unlikely that the Chinese will agree to a cap on their carbon emissions.
Despite all its advances in green technology, China still gets 70% of its energy from coal - and as its economy increases, this means yet more growth in greenhouse gases, our correspondent says.Despite all its advances in green technology, China still gets 70% of its energy from coal - and as its economy increases, this means yet more growth in greenhouse gases, our correspondent says.
Pressure on USPressure on US
There is also concern about the world's other big polluter, the United States.There is also concern about the world's other big polluter, the United States.
Airlines plan 'to cut emissions' Challenge to developed worldAirlines plan 'to cut emissions' Challenge to developed world
President Barack Obama has recognised climate change as a pressing issue, unlike the previous administration, our UN correspondent says.President Barack Obama has recognised climate change as a pressing issue, unlike the previous administration, our UN correspondent says.
He has already announced a target of returning to 1990 levels of greenhouse emissions by 2020, but critics say Washington is moving too slowly on legislation which does not go far enough.He has already announced a target of returning to 1990 levels of greenhouse emissions by 2020, but critics say Washington is moving too slowly on legislation which does not go far enough.
President Obama is currently dogged by domestic issues such as the economy and healthcare reforms, but his speech to the UN meeting will still be watched for signs he is willing to fulfil his pledge to take the lead in reaching a global carbon deal.President Obama is currently dogged by domestic issues such as the economy and healthcare reforms, but his speech to the UN meeting will still be watched for signs he is willing to fulfil his pledge to take the lead in reaching a global carbon deal.
A demonstration of political will by both China and the US will be important in breaking the deadlock in negotiations, correspondents say.A demonstration of political will by both China and the US will be important in breaking the deadlock in negotiations, correspondents say.
China and the US each account for about 20% of the world's greenhouse gas pollution from coal, natural gas and oil.China and the US each account for about 20% of the world's greenhouse gas pollution from coal, natural gas and oil.
The European Union is responsible for 14%, followed by Russia and India with 5% each.The European Union is responsible for 14%, followed by Russia and India with 5% each.