On the road to Paris 2015: Towards a new global climate deal

South Korea’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ban Ki-moon became the eighth UN Secretary-General in 2007. His priorities have been to mobilise world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy and water. He has sought to be a bridge-builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. One of the Secretary-General’s first major initiatives was the 2007 Climate Change Summit, followed by extensive diplomatic efforts that have helped put the issue at the forefront of the global agenda. Subsequent efforts to focus on promoting the low-carbon economy and mobilising commitments to combat climate change at the international, national and local level include ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ initiative and the forthcoming Climate Summit in September.