Climate Change Threatens Economic Stability, Decades of Hard-Won Development Gains, Secretary-General Warns in Message to Asian Investment Forum

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the nineteenth annual Asian Investment Conference, in Hong Kong today:

I am pleased to send greetings to the nineteenth Asian Investment Conference.

Last year, the worlds’ leaders unanimously committed to eradicate extreme poverty, address climate change and build more resilient societies.

We have a blueprint for sustainable development.

Now the real work — and the real opportunities — begin. 

To turn these promises into reality, we need you.  As investors and financiers, you have an essential role in guaranteeing the well-being of people and the planet for generations to come.  You hold the future in your hands.

This is no exaggeration.  Our climate is warming at an unprecedented rate.  The decisions you make over the next few years will determine whether we can limit temperature rise to well below 2°C.

This threshold is critical.  The stability of economies and decades of hard-won development gains are at risk.  We must end our dependence on fossil fuels and embrace the promise of renewable energy.  Trillions of dollars of new opportunities await for those who invest in low-carbon infrastructure and new green technologies.

The world counts on your support for sustainable development.  I urge you to make all your investments the climate-smart investments we need to build the future we want.

I wish you a successful and productive conference.

Thank you.