Secretary-General, in Message for International Civil Aviation Organization,

Says Body Central to Climate Change, Development Agenda

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the thirty-eighth General Assembly Meeting of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, in Montreal on 24 September:

I am pleased to send greetings to the thirty-eighth General Assembly Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization.  Commerce, trade and tourism around the world depend on you to regulate the skies and make them safe for air traffic.  And you are central to the climate change and sustainable development agenda.

The benefits of air travel should be available to all, but they should be provided as efficiently and cleanly as possible.  We have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is a threat to economies large and small, to the development and well-being of societies everywhere, and to the health of the planet.  Momentum is building towards a universal, legally binding global climate agreement by 2015.  Everyone needs to play a part.

Next year I will convene a climate summit to engage government, business and civil society leaders to raise the level of ambition and to catalyse action.  The longer we delay, the greater the costs – to communities, businesses, economies and the planet.  But, if we act together, we can rise to the challenge and build a better more secure world.

I count on this meeting to explore how the aviation sector can limit carbon emissions and contribute to sustainable development.  Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record