Climate change is a crucial issue that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is concerned about. On November 5, he gave a speech to the Greek parliament in Athens and stressed the importance of reaching an agreement over climate change talks in Copenhagen .

[Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General]:
"Climate change is the leading geopolitical and economic issue of this century, the 21st century. These are crucial days. We have only 4 weeks to go before Copenhagen next month. From the moment I took office as Secretary-General, I have urged leaders of the world to make climate change a top priority."

It will be difficult for the rich and poor nations to reach a deal. The poor countries require the rich countries to do more in reducing its emissions. 

Ban Ki-Moon said that developed countries should aim at reducing greenhouse gases by 20 to 40 percent. While poorer countries need financial and technological aid to cut emissions.

[Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General]:
"There is no doubt that the Copenhagen negotiations are complex with many actors and many moving pieces. However our objectives are clear, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Developed countries should commit ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gases by at least 25 to 40 percent. Developing countries themselves also should take their own nationally appropriate mitigation actions. We must provide financial and technological support to developing countries…”

The Group of Eight failed at a July summit in Italy to persuade developing nations such as China and India to sign on to a global goal of cutting world emissions by half  by 2050.