The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will likely to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia on Dec 3-14, UN Secretary spokesman has confirmed, according to Antara. Ban will take part in the Bali conference from 12 to 14 December, United Nations spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters, saying he wants to maximize the opportunity provided by the summit to make progress on his signature issue. "He feels we need a breakthrough in Bali as a critical first step," she said. "If we are to meet the challenge of global warming, we need a new and comprehensive agreement that all nations can embrace. "We do not expect world leaders to walk away from the summit with a new global accord to succeed Kyoto," Ms. Montas added, referring to the internationally agreed Protocol for reducing emissions that is due to expire in 2012. "But the Secretary-General would expect them to agree to an agenda of issues and set a timetable for reaching such an accord," she said. On the hope for the summit, Montas said Ban did not expect that all the world leaders would directly agree to a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol ... but at least they would agree the agenda on what problems needed to be discussed and discuss the time to reach such a deal. During his time in Bali, she added, Ban would hold bilateral meetings with key heads of State and government who are also taking part in the conference, as well as with major players in the field of climate change.
