Alex Salmond issues climate warning

Developed nations must “take the lead” in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the First Minister has warned.

Addressing the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Alex Salmond said that, as Scotland was a “world leader” in the switch to a low-carbon economy, it was “only fitting we should be part of the foremost annual meeting committed to finding solutions to the energy needs of the future”.

Mr Salmond spoke to a number of world leaders at the event, including UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, Premier Wen of China, Atifete Jahjaga, the president of Kosovo, and Kim Hwang-sik, the prime minister of South Korea.

The First Minister addressed a session at the summit, where he called for binding targets for greenhouse gas reductions to provide certainty for both businesses and investors.

He urged leaders to make 2012 a “year of climate justice”.