Thousands of people from across the U.S. and Europe participated in what's billed as the largest march ever on global warming. Photo: AP
Organizers of the march say they want to raise awareness about climate change. Similar gatherings are scheduled in other cities worldwide, including Germany, Rio de Janeiro, Lagos and Nigeria.
One of the biggest reasons for pollution is traffic, of course, contributing to about seven percent of the problem.
Yuva Morcha activists take out a rally to the North Zone ADGP office at Nadakkavu demanding an investigation against owners of Down Town restaurant on Thursday (Photo: DC)
The United Nations is seeking to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, but scientists say current emission trends could hike temperatures to more than twice that level by century's end
The summit talks are separate from the negotiations held under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will culminate with the Paris conference in December 2014.
Key players from the private sector are also stepping into the fray to trumpet their commitment to greening, with Apple CEO Tim Cook announcing on Monday that the tech giant would prioritize low-carbon growth.
The summit is being held after marches drew hundreds of thousands of demonstrators on the streets in cities worldwide on Sunday in a show of "people power" directed at leaders reluctant to tackle global warming.
Despite much enthusiasm from climate activists for the summit's potential to create impetus, some see the event as falling short of what is needed to get serious about the environment.
China is sending Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli while India will be represented by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Leaders take turns at the podium, from President Barack Obama representing the world's second biggest polluter to Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga of the Pacific island-nation of Tuvalu, which faces the prospect of being wiped out by rising sea waters.
But no-shows from the leaders of China, the world's biggest polluter, and India, the number three carbon emitter, are casting a cloud over the event.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is hosting the summit of 120 leaders, the first high-level gathering since the Copenhagen conference on climate change ended in disarray in 2009. Diplomats and climate activists see the event as crucial to building
The largest gathering of world leaders on climate change opens at the United Nations on Tuesday amid calls for action to put the planet on course toward reversing global warming.
The march also coincides with New York's annual climate week, which will include a string of events this week, some featuring celebrities, CEOs and climatologists. Seen here: 'The Hulk' actor Mark Ruffalo.
The march through Manhattan comes two days before the United Nations Climate Summit. More than 120 world leaders will convene Tuesday for the meeting aimed at galvanizing political will for a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015.
Thousands from around the world march for Climate Change