President Barack
Obama says the United States is "determined to act" on climate change
and warned global inaction could result in an "irreversible
catastrophe."
Mr. Obama urged more than 90 world leaders gathered for a climate change summit
in New York City to work together to combat the problem.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the summit, and opened the session
Tuesday by saying it would be "morally inexcusable" not to act.
Officials hope to make progress toward a global climate treaty that governments
plan to finalize during a December meeting in Denmark.
President Obama said the United States has put climate at the top of the
diplomatic agenda with countries across regions, from China and India to Brazil
and Mexico.
He said the United States has taken a series of steps to reduce harmful
emissions, promote renewable energy and increase energy efficiency.