UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the new initiative announced by the British government on financing for climate change, ahead of this December's meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, where countries are expected to wrap up negotiations on an ambitious new pact to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

According to media reports, last Friday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled the "Roadmap to Copenhagen" proposal for US$100 billion to be raised annually to finance mitigation and adaptation measures, especially in the world's poorest nations.

"This initiative comes at a critical time, and is precisely the kind of leadership developed countries must demonstrate" if talks on a new climate change framework, seeking to replace the Kyoto Protocol whose first commitment period ends in 2012, are to succeed, Michele Montas, Ban's spokesperson, told a press briefing here.

"Without a serious commitment on financing from developed countries, a deal in Copenhagen is unlikely," she added.

The British proposal's focus on adaptation, the secretary- general believes, is especially crucial since the poorest and most vulnerable developing countries are suffering most acutely from climate change, she said.

"He also welcomes the reaffirmation of the principle that additional public funding, beyond existing pledges for development assistance, is necessary to finance adaptation," Montas noted.

Ban also voiced hope that the British scheme will spur discussion and financing commitments from other member states.

Last week, he invited heads of state and government to attend an "unprecedented: global summit at UN Headquarters to propel action toward "sealing the deal" on a new global warming accord in Copenhagen.

"Climate change is the greatest challenge facing this and future generations," he said at a press conference in New York. " Emissions are rising and the clock is ticking."

The high-level meeting will be held on Sept. 22, just over two months before the start of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks in the Danish capital.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)