Xinhuanet
Source: Xinhua
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart New York late Sunday evening for attending United UN’s Climate Change Conference to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, Deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, told reporters here Friday.
“On the morning of Tuesday, 15 November, the secretary-general will take part in the opening of the high-level segment of the Climate Change Conference, known as COP22,” Haq said at a daily news briefing here. “This will also serve as the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.”
The COP 22, known as the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), opened on Nov.7 and will end on Nov.18 in Marrakech.
The meeting brought together health and environment ministers to promote healthier environments for healthier people.
The participants are expected to identify ways and means for a potential future coalition and adopt Marrakesh declaration on health, environment and climate change.
The historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change entered into force on Nov. 4 after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 percent of global emissions, have ratified the agreement.
Under the agreement adopted in the French capital in December 2015, nations have agreed to combat climate change and to unleash actions and investment toward a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future.
The following day, Wednesday, the secretary-general will take part in the Summit of African Heads of State and Government hosted by Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, Haq said.
While in Marrakech, the secretary-general will also participate in events on topics including economic diversification and climate finance, Haq said. “He will also meet with world leaders and civil society representatives on the margins of COP22.”
On Thursday, the secretary-general will travel from Marrakech to Paris, where he will meet with French President Francois Hollande and Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Haq said.
“He will also visit the headquarters of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ), where he will meet with Director-General Irina Bokova and staff members.”
The secretary-general will return to New York on Nov. 18, the deputy spokesman added.
