New York, New York, 23-September-2009 - The largest gathering of world leaders collected at the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday to build momentum for the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. This meeting marks one of the final opportunities to trade rhetoric on battling climate change before Copenhagen, when the U.N. hopes a new global framework for emissions reduction will emerge to replace the failed Kyoto Accord.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that negotiations are moving too slowly and is concerned on the progress of negotiations. “Failure to reach broad agreement in Copenhagen would be morally inexcusable, economically shortsighted and politically unwise”, Ban warned. “The science demands it. The world economy needs it.”

Large developed countries, such as, China and the US, account for about 20% of the entire world’s greenhouse gas pollution. During this session both countries proclaimed ambitious targets to tackle global warming.

US President Barack Obama announced targets of returning to 1990 levels of greenhouse emission by 2020. He also proclaimed large emitters of 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent gases a year will have to report those emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, despite this vision skepticism over Congress to act challenges Mr. Obama’s ability to achieve such desirable targets.

Chinese President Hu Jintao pledges to combat climate change by reducing energy intensity, while increasing its reliance on renewable electricity generation and nuclear power. Planning to get 15% of its power from renewable generation by 2020, China vows to use determined practical steps to reduce its overall emissions.

Other nations, like Japan, who generates more than 4% of the world’s greenhouse gases, are seeking a 25% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 level by 2020. And India, emitting 5% of greenhouse gases, is willing to be a part of the solution to cut emissions and build a sustainable environment.

The importance for each nation to be satisfied with global climate targets and partake in what each leader preached will be the greatest challenge. Tuesday’s meeting brought together scattered jig saw pieces, that some fear will not be put together in time for Copenhagen.

Later this week G- 20 are meeting in Pittsburgh, where climate change is on the agenda along with continued talks about the global financial and economic crisis. It’s expected to focus on how to finance the response to climate change.

“Henry J Pullizzi.” US Determined to Act on Climate, Despite Doubts and Difficulties. The Wall Street Journal, 22 September 2009.

“John Heilprin”. China vows practical steps on climate change. The Globe and Mail, 22 September 2009.