UN Chief Sees Impacts of Climate Change First-hand in Norwegian Arctic Zone

United Nations (PNAXinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday was in the Norwegian Arctic zone to see first-hand impacts of climate change on the region, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

“The secretary-general is currently in the Norwegian Arctic zone, on board the research vessel RV Lance,” Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. “In the run-up to the Paris Conference, the secretary-general is receiving briefings from scientists and observing first-hand the effects of climate change on the region, which he previously visited in 2009.”

Detailed activities of Ban’s visit Wednesday included an excursion to a Norwegian glacier, Blomstrandbreen, to see the dramatic changes to the ice, as well as briefings at the Kings Bay Marine Lab and the Svalbard Satellite Station.

Climate change is one of Ban’s priorities of work, and he urged member states to reach an ambitious global treaty on climate change at a UN conference in Paris in December. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/EBP