Really Wanted Modi To Attend UN Climate Change Summit: Ban Ki-Moon

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he “really wanted” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in his crucial day-long climate change summit next week, which will be attended by about 120 heads of states and government to mobilise political will for a universal and meaningful climate agreement next year.

Ban said Modi will be addressing the General Debate of the UN General Assembly on September 27 but will not be participating in the climate change summit on September 23. “Even though he (Modi) will not be able to participate in climate summit meeting, per se, I really wanted to have him participate in climate change summit meeting,” Ban told reporters during his briefing ahead of the start of the 69th General Assembly session.

Ban was asked to comment on the leaders of India, Russia and China not attending his summit on climate change, which said is a “defining issue of our times.” Chinese President Xi Jinping and Modi will not be attending the Secretary General’s climate change summit. Ban said even though the leaders from India, China and Russia will not be able to participate in the meeting, there are “other means of communications, ways and means of having their leadership demonstrated in the United Nations.”

India’s Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is expected to represent the country at the summit, which will focus on mobilising political will for a universal and meaningful climate agreement next year in Paris and second to generate ambitious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience.

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