Climate talks to boost momentum for deal

The one-day UN meeting on climate change in New York later this month is intended to generate political momentum ahead of a landmark climate summit in December, according to a top UN official.
The September 22 talks are "intended to provide political momentum at the highest level to accelerate progress toward a deal in Copenhagen," said Janos Pasztor, director of UN chief Ban Ki-moon's Climate Change Support Team, at a news conference Tuesday.
UN officials said they expect many heads of state at the September meeting, including, in what would be his first time at top-level international climate talks, US President Barack Obama.
Saying that "progress has been much too slow" on negotiations, Pasztor noted there were only 15 more days of negotiations available ahead of Copenhagen.
"The full engagement of world leaders is absolutely essential," Pasztor urged, adding that all 192 member states of the world body are invited to attend the talks.
Although he said the informal talks on the sidelines of the UN's annual general assembly meet would not produce a formal declaration, the momentum should boost movement towards "a fair, effective and ambitious deal" in December.
In Copenhagen, world leaders will try to seal a new accord to fight climate change after the Kyoto Protocol requirements expire in 2012.
Speaking to AFP in Norway earlier this month, the UN secretary general criticised world leaders for often acting in the interests of their own countries.
"Climate change affects everyone. It doesn't respect borders. So political leaders should act as world leaders," Ban said.