MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ban Ki-moon confirms visit to Latinamerica and Antarctica

UN Secretary will be in Antarctic next week

Continuing his efforts to spotlight the issue of climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Latin America, Antarctica and Europe next week where in addition to making diplomatic contacts, he will see first-hand deforestation and other environmental problems caused by the phenomenon.

Mr. Ban's trip builds on his previous efforts to push for action ahead of a major climate change conference to be held in December in Bali, Indonesia, where delegates from across the world are expected to try to hammer out a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains legally binding targets for reducing emissions. The Secretary-General's journey to Latin America will also include an official visit to Buenos Aires, as well as Santiago, where he will attend the Ibero-American Summit before wrapping up with an official visit to Brasilia. Environmental stops include Punta Arenas, Chile, whose residents live with a hole in the ozone layer; Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, where glaciers have been affected by climate change; Antarctica, where he will be briefed by scientists at research stations; and Brazil, where he plans to visit an ethanol plant, and meet researchers and indigenous groups in the country's Amazon region, Mr. Ban's spokesperson said. The Secretary-General will also visit Valencia, Spain, on 17 November, where the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be releasing its latest report. The IPCC was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Al Gore.