The North Pole mission of the UN leader comes about three months ahead of the important climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
-I will try to deliver a clear strong message from my visit to the North Pole, Mr. Ban told reporters ahead of the trip. -Now is the time for decision-making, he added.
-We must seal a deal in Copenhagen for a global, equitable and comprehensive deal for the future of humanity and the future of Planet Earth, he stressed, a press release from the world organization reads.
At Svalbard, Mr. Ban visited Ny-Ålesund, the quickly developing research village at the archipelago. He there met with director of the Norwegian Polar Institute Jan Gunnar Winther and other research representatives, a the Polar Institute informs.
From Ny-Ålesund, the general secretary was sent by boat to the Arctic ice brim, where the research vessel Lance currently is operating. Ban Ki-Moon will spend a total of three days in Norway.
