UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on the world to come together to create a new climate treaty by 2009. He believes that specific cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be determined after the UN talks in Bali. Ban emphasized the importance of reaching a consensus on launching negotiations for a new agreement to replace the current Kyoto Protocol. He described climate change as the most significant challenge of our time and stressed the urgent need to address issues such as rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and extinctions. Ban urged the environment ministers to take action immediately, despite their disagreements over the terms of negotiations for a global treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The United States is resisting any mention of the scientific evidence pointing to the necessity of reducing greenhouse gases by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Ban stated that negotiations will have to take place in the future, aligning with the perspective of Washington. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the U.N. climate panel's recommendation of a 25-40 percent reduction to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ban suggested creating a roadmap with a strict timeline to reach an international agreement by 2009, with the goal of adopting a new pact at a meeting in Copenhagen. The United States, along with Japan, Canada, and Australia, argues that mentioning a 25-to-40 percent range could affect the outcome of negotiations, despite it being non-binding. Paula Dobriansky, US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, emphasized the importance of not pre-determining the results of the process. However, the European Union believes that wealthy nations must lead by example to persuade developing countries like China and India to reduce their emissions from burning fossil fuels. German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel stated that simply meeting again next year in Bali is not enough, emphasizing the need to establish a starting point and clear goals for progress. Ban urged all countries, including the United States, to be open-minded and adaptable. He mentioned that despite the challenges posed by global warming, there is a positive aspect as innovative solutions could lead to job creation and help alleviate poverty in developing countries across Africa and Asia. Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently presented official documents to Ban to endorse the Kyoto Protocol, distinguishing the United States as the sole wealthy nation not committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the U.N. agreement until 2012. Rudd, whose Labor Party achieved a significant victory in the recent election, emphasized that Australia is already experiencing the effects of climate change, such as water scarcity and damage to the Great Barrier Reef. He warned that current events are a sign of what is to come in the future. The discussions are scheduled to conclude by Friday or possibly early Saturday, and traditional annual U.N. climate meetings involve intense negotiations and overnight sessions. The United Nations aims to have an agreement in place by the end of 2009 to allow parliaments three years to ratify it and assist in directing significant investments in various forms of energy production. It took eight years for enough countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol for it to be enforced in 2005, with the process being delayed in 2001 by the United States' decision not to participate. If Bali fails to agree on initiating talks, the chances of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol would diminish. In addition to Australia, 36 Kyoto nations have pledged to reduce emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. The United States contends that the Kyoto agreement would negatively impact its economy and unfairly does not include targets for major developing nations in the years 2008-2012.