New York to Host UN Climate Summit and a Week of Public Action next September

New York to Host UN Climate Summit and a Week of Public Action next
September

New York, 24 June 2009 On Tuesday, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon
invited world leaders to an "unprecedented" Summit on Climate Change at
UN Headquarters for Heads of State and Government from every country in
the world. The focus of the day-long event will be to mobilize the
political will needed to "Seal a Deal" at the United Nations Climate
Change Conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December.

During the week of the Summit, 21-25 September, New York City will host
"Climate Week NYC" - five days of cultural events, workshops, seminars
and other activities organized by NGOs, businesses, artists, and
academia, reinforcing the call for urgent action in Copenhagen and
beyond on climate change.

While the Summit will serve to generate momentum at the highest
political level, Climate Week will mobilize a wide cross-section of
civil society - not just in New York, but around the world - in support
of a new climate deal.

Speaking at a press conference with Mr. Bloomberg, Mr. Ban said he was
joining forces with the city and non-governmental organizations to
launch this important initiative.

"Climate change is the greatest challenge facing this and future
generations." Citing the world's leading scientists, he stressed that
there are fewer than 10 years left to stop rising emissions in order to
avoid "catastrophic" problems. "Now is the time for action," he
emphasized.

The Secretary General highlighted the significance of reaching a climate
agreement in December. "If we are to 'seal a deal' in Copenhagen, we
need to be bold and ambitious and visionary. And therefore we need the
full support and commitment of the visionary global leaders at the
highest level," he stressed.

The UN can galvanize support for climate change action, but ultimately,
Mr. Ban said, it is the world's parliaments, presidents, prime
ministers, governors and mayors who must take bold measures to tackle
climate change.

"Seal the Deal" is a global UN campaign for a fair, balanced and
effective climate agreement at the

United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Global public support is crucial if governments are to "seal the deal"
on a new climate agreement in Copenhagen. Thousands of people have
already added their voice to the global chorus by signing the Climate
Petition on the campaign website at www.sealthedeal2009.org.

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The Climate Petition Seal the Deal!

The Climate Petition
Seal the Deal!

The world urges world leaders to:

Seal the Deal at COP 15 on a climate agreement that is definitive, equitable and effective.

Set binding targets to cut greenhouses gases by 2020 to avert the climate change threat.

Establish a framework that will bolster the climate resilience of vulnerable countries and protect lives and livelihoods.

Support developing countries’ adaptation efforts.

Seize this defining opportunity to protect People and the Planet.

Power green growth; launch the green, low carbon economy of tomorrow

Seal the Deal
Power Green Growth
Protect People and the Planet

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Youth Action on Climate Change

Youth Action
Youth Action on Climate Change

On 21 September 2009, UNEP with the support of several partners including UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, WMO, the Secretariat of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout (WAGGGS) and 350 degrees hopes to bring together over one million young people to march across one hundred capitals to deliver to global leaders the Seal the Deal Petition on behalf of the world’s three billion young people.

The Seal the Deal Petition will be developed online and finally agreed to in Daejeon, South Korea at a Global Townhall during the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference. Organized against the backdrop of the world wide campaign on climate change “Seal the Deal”, the petition aims to ensure the voices of youth reach, and hopefully inspire world leaders to sign a definitive climate deal in Copenhagen.
“Seal the Deal” Youth Action Activities:

Children and Youth Conference on Climate Change
17- 25 August - Daejeon, South Korea
The Conference will bring together 1,000 participants comprising 750 children (10 to 14 years) and their chaperones and 250 youth (15 to 24 years). The theme of the conference is Climate Change - Our Challenge and will include two high profile events (A Global Townhall and a Global Debate). The Conference will result in a petition to world leaders and an action plan for promoting individual actions on climate change.

Global Townhall (20 August 2009)
The Global Townhall meeting will include all 1,000 participants of the Conference and virtual participants from over 20 cities around the world connected via webcasting. The Townhall will adopt a petition on climate change for governments and will discuss a rollout plan on the delivery of the petition in over 100 capitals around the world. It will also discuss the action plan for individual actions. The following countries have already confirmed their participation via webcasting in the townhall (Kenya, Sweden, the UK, Switzerland, Mexico and India). It will be organized with the support of the US-based Global Voices.

Global Debate on Climate Change (20 August 2009)
At least three high level political leaders, several business leaders, senior UN dignitaries and young business and political leaders will join the 1,000 participants of the Tunza Conferences to discuss the scenarios that the global community will be faced with in the event of a deal or no deal at the climate change conference in Copenhagen.

UniteforClimate Online Campaign
UniteforClimate is an interactive social networking platform developed by UNICEF in collaboration with UNEP. It provides a platform for young people to learn, interact and share their thoughts about climate change and the action needed to combat global warming.

UniteforClimate encourages young people to interact with scientists and decision-makers to build their capacity and knowledge. Young people will also be encouraged to interact with other young people to discuss the issues they find pertinent to the earth and their own future.

Virtual Climate Wall
A Virtual Climate Wall will allow young people to articulate their concerns on climate change so the world can understand why the next generation feels it is imperative to reach agreement in Copenhagen. This Climate Wall will be projected at UN headquarters during the General Assembly meeting on 22 September.

Global Action Week on Climate Change
20-25 September 2009
Young People from around the world will be invited to join a Global Action Week on Climate Change from 20-25 September 2009. The Action week is being organized in partnership with the world’s leading environmental NGO’s and coincides with the UN General Assembly Summit in New York on 22 September 2009.

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