Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will take part with 25 other heads of state, including U.S. President Barack Obama, on Sept. 22 for a climate change summit at the United Nations in New York City.
The U.N. Secretariat selected Arias as one of seven heads of state to address the summit with a short speech. Arias will also participate in discussion about each country’s role in climate change negotiations.
Arias will speak as the global leader of developing countries, saidJairo Hernández, deputy permanent representative for Costa Rica to the U.N.
Hernández said. “Middle-income countries are called upon to play an important role since the main emissions problem is caused by developed countries,” He continued, “These emissions will have limits that will have to be accounted for by what developing countries do.”
Reforestation, increasing energy efficiency and better agriculture practices, are some key points on the agenda After the climate change summit concludes, Arias will join President Hu Jintao of China and U.S. President Barack Obama in a nuclear arms debate Sept. 24.