New York - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday to launch Climate Week NYC to support the climate change summit of world leaders planned for September. Ban has invited all heads of state and government to attend the summit on September 22 at UN headquarters in New York, one day before the UN General Assembly is to open its 64th annual session.
The climate week is planned for September 21 to 25 with various events in the city.
Bloomberg, who is running for a third four-year term, has been trying to spread a green policy in New York City, starting with its estimated 1 million buildings, including public offices. The city has a population of 8 million.
"We will join in highlighting actions that local governments, businesses, consumers and citizens will take to support the week," Bloomberg said in a joint, open air press conference with Ban.
Bloomberg launched two years ago a green programme for the city, based on the belief that it will be the best formula for economic growth in the short and long term. He said the city's 1 million buildings will have to convert to energy efficient use and become carbon neutral, meaning as little carbon emissions as possible.
City Hall is committed to spend 400 million dollars in the next four years to implement its Green NYC plan for energy efficiency in all private and public buildings.
Bloomberg supports the UN goal of completing negotiations in December in Copenhagen for a new Kyoto Protocol to replace the current one when it expires in 2012. The protocol aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
Ban and the UN launched a global campaign known as Seal the Deal in an effort to urge governments to agree to the new Kyoto Protocol when they meet in Copenhagen December 7 to 18.
Ban exhorted governments to agree to the new protocol document ahead of Copehagen to ensure success at the conference.
"There is lots of work to do but not a lot of time to seal the deal," Ban said.
His aim is to push for the deal to be sealed when government leaders meet on September 22 for the climate change summit in New York before they meet again in Copenhagen.
