UN chief wanted Modi to be at climate change summit

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that he "really wanted" Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in a crucial climate change summit in New York next week to mobilise political will for a universal and meaningful climate agreement.

Ban said the Indian Prime Minister will be addressing the General Debate of the UN General Assembly on September 27, but will not be participating in the climate change summit on September 23.

"Even though he will not be able to participate in the climate summit meeting per se, I really wanted to have him (Modi) participate in climate change summit meeting," Ban told reporters here during his briefing ahead of the start of the 69th General Assembly session.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Modi will not be attending the Secretary General's climate change summit, which will be attended by about 120 heads of states and government. 

Ban said even though the leaders from India and China will not be able to participate in the meeting, there are "other means of communication" and ways of having the heads of states demonstrate their leadership for the summit. 

India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is expected to represent the country at the summit, which will focus on mobilising political will for a universal and meaningful climate agreement next year in Paris and second to generate ambitious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience. 

Ban said the day-long climate change summit will be one the "largest and biggest" gathering of world leaders with about 120 heads of states, including US President Barack Obama to participate in the event. 

Ban said it is "extremely difficult to have (in) one day, one time and one place 120 heads of states and government" and the strong participation shows the "very strong commitment" of the international community on climate change and other crisis.

Earlier this month, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had said that while the Chinese President and Modi will not be attending the Secretary General's climate change summit, "the important issue for us is really on the commitments that countries will bring. 

"The Secretary-General

expects every member state to come with strong and bold commitments on climate change." 

Modi is expected to reach New York on September 26 and will address the UN General Assembly the next day, giving his first global speech to an audience of nearly 200 world leaders and foreign ministers at the annual gathering of the world body's policy-making organ.

After a grand community reception at the Madison Square Garden on September 28, Modi will head to Washington for his crucial bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama. 

Dujarric had said in May that Ban expressed "hope" that Modi would attend the General Assembly and particularly participate in the climate change summit, an area he said India can make important contributions. 

Dujarric had said that India has a big role to play on the issue of climate change and it has very important contributions to make.

Heads of State and Government will join leaders from business and civil society to announce new commitments and practical actions to address climate change at the summit hosted by the Secretary-General.

The one-day summit will mark the first time in five years where the world leaders are set to get together to chart a bold, new course of action on climate change.

The Secretary-General has asked leaders to announce significant and substantial initiatives to help move the world toward a path that will limit global warming.

The summit would accelerate political momentum and catalyse ambitious action on the ground, Ban said in a statement.

"I have invited leaders from governments, cities, business, finance and civil society to showcase what they are doing to promote the transformative change we know we need."

"The world needs to see what countries are already doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

In addition to governments, leaders from the private sector, including from business and finance, would also announce significant new commitments.

The summit would consist of an opening ceremony, announcements by Heads of State and Governments and private sector, the launch of new initiatives addressing key action areas by coalitions of governments, businesses and civil society organisations.