Extract from ABC News
Updated
Photo:
US President-elect Donald Trump has previously described man-made climate change as a "hoax". (AP: Evan Vucci)
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says action on
climate change has become "unstoppable", as he expressed hopes US
President-elect Donald Trump would drop plans to quit a global accord
aimed at weaning the world off fossil fuels.
Key points:
- Mr Ban says he hopes Mr Trump will "evaluate" his position on climate change
- Mr Trump has previously said he will withdraw US from Paris Agreement
- Mr Ban says market forces are already pushing the world economy towards cleaner energies
At a meeting of almost 200 nations in Morocco to work out ways to implement the 2015 Paris agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Ban said US companies, states and cities were all pushing to limit global warming.
"What was once unthinkable has become unstoppable," he told a news conference of the Paris Agreement, agreed by governments last year, ratified in record time and formally adopted by more than 100 nations including the United States.
Australia has signed the Paris Agreement, and the Federal Government said it would ratify the agreement despite concerns Mr Trump would withdraw support.
The accord, aiming to phase out net greenhouse gas emissions this century, was a breakthrough after more than two decades of negotiations, driven by increased scientific certainty that man-made emissions drive heat waves, floods and rising sea levels.
Mr Ban said he hoped Mr Trump, elected last Tuesday, would drop his view that man-made climate change was a hoax and his pledge to cancel the Paris Agreement.
"I am sure he will make a quick, wise decision," Mr Ban said, saying climate change was having severe impacts from the Arctic to Antarctica.
He noted this year was on track to be the warmest year since records began in the 19th century.
"I hope he will really hear and understand the severity and urgency of addressing climate change," he said.
"As president of the United States I hope he understands this, listens and evaluates his campaign remarks."
Mr Ban said companies, including General Mills and Kellogg, states such as California and cities such as Washington, Nashville and Las Vegas were working to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
He said Mr Trump, was a "very successful business person" and would understand that market forces were already acting to push the world economy towards cleaner energies, away from fossil fuels.
Mr Ban, who will step down at the end of the year after a decade in charge of the United Nations, has made action on climate change a core issue of his time in office.
Reuters
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