Roundup: UN chief lists climate change, people in need, tolerance as top concerns for 2015

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said Thursday that climate change, displacement of people, people in need and tolerance top the concerns for the world organization in 2015, all wrapped within his overall goal of sustainable development.

"First, 2015 is a year of historic opportunity," he told reporters after delivering a more detailed list of concerns to an informal session of the 193-member General Assembly. "We are the first generation that can end poverty and the last one that can take steps to avoid the worst impact on climate change."

"2015 is a chance for major advances across the three inter- connected pillars of our work: development, peace and human rights, " he said during an informal meeting of the General Assembly, praising member states'work in building a new development agenda, including a set of sustainable development goals.

"In my synthesis report, now delivered to you -- The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet -- I am offering my support of this work and some further ideas on the road ahead."

The report aims to support States'discussions going forward, taking stock of the negotiations on the post-2015 agenda and reviewing lessons from pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight anti-poverty goals. It stresses the need to "finish the job" of the Goals -- both to help people now and as a launch pad for the new agenda.

"With adoption of our new development agenda and sustainable development goals and climate change agreements, we can set the world on course for a better future," Ban said. "This must be a time for global action. Our future generations will judge us harshly if we fail to meet our obligations."

"Second, we continue to face multiple crises, with more people displaced and in need than any time in decades," he said. "Beyond the diplomacy and humanitarian action are needed lessons for the future. Whether it is a disease, or conflict or human rights abuses the international community needs to act earlier, focus on prevention and get to the causes before events get out of control. "

For his third point, Ban made a special appeal for tolerance and understanding.

"In far too many places we have seen acts of terrorism, extremism, unspeakable brutalities and a deeply worrying escalation of tensions between communities and within societies," the UN chief said. "Addressing these discords in a manner that resolves rather than multiplies the problems may be the greatest test our human family faces in the 21st century."

"All of us were deeply moved by images from yesterday's ( Wednesday's) despicable attack in Paris," Ban said, referring to the jihadist assault on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that claimed 12 lives. "Perhaps none was as horrifying as the death of a French policeman brutally seen executed on a sidewalk.

The secretary-general said the officer was identified as Ahmed Merabet, a Muslim. "This is yet another reminder of what we are facing together. It should never be seen as a war of religion -- for religion --- or on religion. It is an assault on our common humanity designed to terrify and incite. Giving in to hatred and sowing division only guarantees a growing spiral of violence -- precisely what terrorists seek. We must not fall into that trap."

"We need to find a way to live together, in peace, in harmony, in full respect of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, " he said.

He didn't stop with the Paris attack as an example of religion being cited as a reason for violence. "Boko Haram has continued its violence, killing Christians and Muslims, kidnapping even more women and children, and destroying churches and mosques," he recalled, citing the violence in Nigeria. "Mayhem has spread across the region, and is now having a direct impact on Cameroon and other countries."

Obviously moved by the group's action, Ban said he made a " personal appeal, as a father and grandfather, and as secretary- general of the United Nations."

"I urge Boko Haram's leaders to end the destruction of so many lives and communities, and immediately and unconditionally release the kidnapped school girls and boys and all others," he said. "The international community cannot let human rights abuses continue with impunity."

His 30-minute presentation to member states in the great hall of the General Assembly was followed by a closed door session of questions and answers for about another half hour.

But his opening remarks were public and actually began with a look back at some of the problems facing the world organization in 2014, calling it a "year of turmoil" that proved "difficult" for the United Nations, with more than 100 million people needing assistance and "an unprecedented number" of UN personnel deployed in highly volatile security environments."

Among the trouble spots he listed were conflicts in Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Ukraine, including the Syrian civil war, Israeli-Palestinian battles and fighting in Libya and Yemen, as well as the deadly Ebola virus that has ravaged west Africa. Endite