World leaders gather for climate summit

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an unprecedented summit on climate change yesterday that “the time for doubt has passed” and a breakthrough is needed in global talks to sharply reduce emissions of global-warming gases.

“The UN climate process is the appropriate forum for negotiating global action,” Mr Ban told assembled presidents and premiers, an apparent caution against what some see as a US effort to open a separate negotiating track.

The UN chief also addressed a chief US objection to negotiated limits on greenhouse-gas emissions, that it will be too damaging to the American economy.