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       UN Chief Urges 'Transformative' Deal to Avoid Climate Catastrophe

   by Lisa Bryant

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged nations to make the
   compromises necessary to put the planet on a carbon-free path or risk a
   "climate catastrophe." He spoke as negotiators race to reach a climate
   change deal by Friday. A new draft agreement is expected on Wednesday.

   With just four days left for climate negotiations, U.N. Secretary
   General Ban called on nations to heed what he called a "rising global
   tide" of demands to reach a 'transformative' agreement.
   "I say to you that your decisions can lay the foundations for a
   sustainable future where all the people and planet can thrive. Your
   work here this week can help eradicate poverty, spark a green energy
   revolution, provide jobs, opportunities and hope for tomorrow.
   Particularly for young people and succeeding generations, there can be
   no mistaking the peril before our eyes," Ban said.

   In remarks to ministers from nearly 200 nations and later to
   journalists, Ban mixed hope for success in talks outside Paris with
   dire warnings about what could happen to the planet - and to future
   generations - if no deal is reached.
   On Saturday, negotiators compiled a first draft of an agreement that is
   supposed to be concluded by Friday.
   Final push
   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has joined foreign and environment
   ministers in giving a final push to the talks.
   French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has created four working groups
   to tackle the biggest, unresolved topics, including tackling
   differences between rich and poor nations, and improving on national
   climate plans.

   ''
   The climate stakes are highest for some of the world's poorest and most
   vulnerable nations, like the tiny Pacific island of Tuvalu. They are
   pushing for going beyond the current goal of limiting global warming to
   no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels.

   Tuvalu's Prime Minister Enele Sosone Sopoaga said going beyond 1.5C
   will mean the demise of his country and others like it. Together,
   current national plans limit global warming to almost double that
   temperature.

   "There is a big whale in the lagoon, as we say in the Pacific. We must
   rise above this fear... and address this whale or else we all perish,"
   Sopoaga said.

   There are plenty of other sticking points to reaching a deal, including
   financing for the poorest nations and ensuring countries not only stick
   to their carbon-cutting goals but go further in the coming years than
   what they will promise in Paris.
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   nt-to-avoid-climate-catastrophe/3092055.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-chief-urges-transformative-agreement-to-avoid-climate-catastrophe/3092055.html