12 And no issue is more essential to our survival as a species. From the moment the Secretary-General took office, he sought to mobilize the political will needed to address this increasingly grave global threat. This year, leadership at the highest level, from each and every country, is urgently needed to protect the planet, save lives and build a more sustainable global economy. 92. Last year’s December meeting on climate change in Poznan, Poland, was an important milestone on the road from Bali to Copenhagen. Much remains to be done, however. While there are other forums for climate discussions, only the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enjoys global legitimacy based on the principle of nearuniversal participation. It will continue to facilitate negotiations among all parties. 93. Several elements require resolution to seal a deal in Copenhagen. At present, these include ambitious mitigation targets from industrialized countries; mitigation measures from the developing countries, beyond what they are already doing; increased financing, both for mitigation and adaptation, including incentives for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation; equitable institutional and governance arrangements; and a framework for adaptation to assist those countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 94. To further prospects for success in Copenhagen, the Secretary-General is organizing a highlevel event on climate change for all Heads of State and Government at United Nations Headquarters on 22 September 2009. It will be the only international climate meeting before Copenhagen to bring together all the world’s leaders, from the major emitters to the most vulnerable. 95. Going forward, the United Nations system is committed to assisting Governments in the implementation of all existing and future climate change agreements. To that end, the Organization continues to draw upon an increasingly coherent and wellcoordinated response from United Nations agencies, funds and programmes focused on adaptation, capacity-building, climate knowledge, prevention of deforestation and degradation and technology development and transfer, which is coordinated through the Chief Executives Board for Coordination. 96. Numerous examples of inter-agency cooperation exist, including at the country level, where the Organization is delivering results for those most in need. One such initiative supports rainforest countries in reducing emissions caused by deforestation and degradation, while protecting indigenous livelihoods. Another helps developing countries strengthen their involvement in mitigation actions that advance sustainable development through the clean development mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol.
Yearbook of the United Nations, 2009 97. The inter-agency climate change adaptation network supports developing countries with the information and technology needed to bolster communitybased climate resilience measures. Disaster risk reduction efforts, another core element of adaptation policy, are helping create safer communities, both now and under the more extreme weather conditions of the future. 98. Finally, the global green economy initiative, launched last year, provides policymakers with the timely analysis needed to help transform the economy in a lower-carbon direction. If it is fully implemented—and backed by an ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen—lives and livelihoods can be saved and the world set on a safer, more sustainable course of green growth. 99. Combating climate change is a moral imperative—and an economic opportunity. In addressing the climate challenge, we can help catalyse economic recovery, improve energy access and food security for the poor and strengthen our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This year, we must join together to help realize the ultimate global good: protecting lives while protecting our planet, for this and future generations. B. Global health 100. The Secretary-General has made advancing global health a core priority. In this interconnected world, illness and disease in one part of the world affect the well-being of people worldwide, either through direct or indirect channels. The influenza A(H1N1) outbreak reminded us that geography no longer guarantees immunity and that we can only protect ourselves if we come together and join forces. This is true for pandemics as well as the other global health challenges we face today. 101. The United Nations system has been working to prepare and respond to the possibility of a pandemic. Over the past years, the system has initiated advance planning, encouraged transparency in sharing real-time information and intelligence on the progress of diseases, advocated for investment in strong public health systems and sought to forge strong partnerships between the private, public and voluntary sectors. These measures have dramatically improved our response capacity to new outbreaks and emerging diseases. 102. The Organization has looked beyond the influenza outbreak to the more systemic problems underlying global health provision. These are closely linked to progress on development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. A healthier world is a better world, a safer world and a more just world.