Ulaanbaatar
Ban Ki-Moon, Champion of the Fight Against Climate Change
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, November 1, 2024 /MONTSAME/. President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa issued a Decree Conferring the State Supreme Decoration of Mongolia, Order of Chinggis Khaan upon Ban Ki-Moon, a citizen of the Republic of Korea, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Ban Ki-Moon succeeded Kofi Annan in 2007, becoming the 8th UN Secretary-General and the second from the Asian-Pacific region.
The first major initiative of the newly appointed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was convening the 2007 Climate Change Summit.
He urged world leaders to demonstrate political courage and will in the fight against climate change, reminding them that future generations, lives, and aspirations of billions of people were in their hands.
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon underscored, “It is politically and morally irresponsible if the rich and powerful countries do not assist those countries that contributed the least to climate change but are affected the most.”
Not only did Ban Ki-Moon issue calls and reminders, but he also voiced his concerns about global warming at the World Climate Change Conference held in 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Moreover, he participated in the 2014 UN Climate Summit, advocating for unified efforts, and even joined demonstrators in the public march in New York City demanding urgent action on climate change.
His years of persistent efforts culminated in a historic moment in December of 2015 in Paris. Over 190 countries endorsed the Paris Agreement, aiming at limiting global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere starting in 2020. Mongolia was among the signatories.
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon stated, “The ratification of the Paris Agreement serves as a moment of inspiration and solidarity for the global community; however, the journey ahead would be long.”
In recognition of his contributions to making the Paris Agreement a legally binding treaty, Foreign Policy magazine named Ban Ki-Moon as one of the “Top 100 Global Thinkers,” and Forbes included him in their list of “The World’s Most Powerful People.”
His colleagues continue to regard him as an honest and dedicated individual who has effectively achieved his most critical goals, including climate change.
