Secretary-General, at Paris Tree-Planting Event, Calls Each Small Sapling ‘Seeds of Hope’ for Restoring Earth’s Abundance

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the “One Heart One Tree” event, in Paris today:

It is an honour to be with you in the heart of Paris.  We are here to celebrate the start of two historic weeks, during which Governments will forge a shared, global response to climate change.

Meeting the climate challenge is central to building a more equitable and peaceful future for all on a healthy planet.  Leaders bear responsibility for the success of the negotiations.  But it is all of you — the great forces of civil society — who have helped get us to this pivotal moment.

Your voices, your activism, your passion are making a difference.  We are here as individuals, but we share one common goal.  Like the rhythms depicted tonight on the Eiffel Tower, our hearts beat as one.  I am glad that our combined efforts today will go towards planting trees around the world.

In the South Pacific, I helped plant mangroves to defend against rising seas.  In Peru, my wife and I joined a group of women planting trees to stabilize land at risk of erosion.  With each small sapling, we were planting seeds of hope — hope for restoring our planet’s abundance; hope for a safer, better world for our children and grandchildren.

New partnerships are growing between Governments, the private sector and civil society.  We see these same seeds of hope now flourishing in the Lima-Paris Action Agenda.  Climate action by all is taking root.  From here, with your help, it can only grow stronger — and as tall as this great tower.