No fewer than 120 heads of state and government will attend the one-day Climate Change Summit to be hosted by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on September 23 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The summit, tagged: “Climate Summit 2014: Catalyzing Action”, was aimed at generating political will toward a meaningful universal climate agreement in 2015.

A UN statement issued in New York on Sunday stated that the summit also aims at advancing action on the ground that would reduce emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The UN noted that the leaders, and in some cases their representatives, would present “national action and ambition announcements” at the plenary sessions to be held at the UN General Assembly Hall.

It noted that “the summit will mark the first time in five years that world leaders will get together to chart a bold and new course of action on climate change.

“The UN Secretary-General has asked leaders to announce significant and substantial initiatives to help move the world toward a path that will limit global warming.

“Announcements at the summit will be aimed at mobilising finance for climate action, increasing the use of renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, reducing deforestation, promoting climate smart agriculture, building resilience, reducing pollutants, and promoting climate action in the world’s cities,” it stated.

The statement said that in addition to the leaders from governments, there would also be strong participation from leaders from business, finance and civil society.

“This includes CEOs and managing directors from companies as varied as the Asia Pulp and Paper Group, Bank of America, Cargill, GDF SUEZ, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd, Ingersoll-Rand plc, KfW Bankengruppe, McDonald’s Corporation, Saudi Aramco, Unilever, Walmart, Yes Bank Limited, APG and Credit Agricole.”

It also said that the summit would feature an opening ceremony, announcements by heads of state and government, announcements by the private sector, the launch of new initiatives by coalitions of governments, businesses and civil society organisations.

“There will also be sessions that focus on critical aspects of climate change, including science, people living on the frontlines of climate change, the societal benefits of action, and the economic case for action on climate change,” the UN added.

The UN Secretary-General will summarise the outcome of the summit at the closing ceremony, the statement added.

(NAN)