by Daniel Ooko

    NAIROBI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN is calling for millions of online signatures for a climate petition and launching the first-ever Global Climate Week as part of its "Seal the Deal!" campaign, 100 days ahead of a crucial UN climate change summit in Copenhagen (COP 15) in December.

    A statement from the Nairobi-based UN Information Center (UNIC) said on Friday that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is leading the call for communities around the world to take advantage of Global Climate Week from September 21-25 to encourage leaders to seal a fair, balanced and effective agreement on climate change.

People take part in a demonstration asking for the government to tackle climate change in front of Mexico's foreign ministry headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico, on Aug. 27, 2009. The words on the banner read: "The time is over, Save the climate". (Xinhua/David) Photo Gallery>>>

    "A scientifically-credible deal in Copenhagen can catalyze a transition to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy which is so essential on a planet of six billion people, rising to over nine billion by 2050," said Achim Steiner, UN under-secretary general and executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

    "As such, it will represent perhaps the biggest and most far reaching stimulus package of 2009 and beyond," he said.

    Among the events planned for more than 120 countries are youth assemblies, tree planting drives, a climate neutral day and a "Go Green Day". New York and other cities around the world have set up a full program for the week.

    Communities, businesses and individuals are encouraged to add their voices to the "Seal the Deal!" campaign during Global Climate Week by signing the Climate Petition to coalesce millions of signatures.

    "Time is running out. Scientists warn that climate impacts are accelerating. Now more than ever, we need political leadership at the highest level to ensure we protect people and the planet, and to catalyze the green growth that can power the 21st century economy," Ban stressed.

    "With just 15 negotiating days remaining before the start of COP15, now is the time for people in every corner of the world to urge their governments to seal a fair, effective and ambitious deal in Copenhagen," he added.

    The statement said Ban will visit a Norwegian island deep inside the Arctic Circle near the North Pole on Tuesday next week to witness the problem of glacial melt and other climate change impacts.

People take part in a demonstration asking for the government to tackle climate change in front of Mexico's foreign ministry headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico, on Aug. 27, 2009.(Xinhua/David) Photo Gallery>>>

    Global Climate Week will coincide with the secretary general's Summit on Climate Change at UN headquarters in New York on September 22, one day ahead of the annual General Assembly meeting.

    The Climate Petition is a consolidation of appeals supported by the UN "Seal the Deal!" Campaign, the global coalition on climate action and other major campaigns.

    The petition will be presented by civil society to the governments of the world in Copenhagen.

    Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva, President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde Giorgis and South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo are amongst those who have lent their support to campaign.

    The campaign has also attracted the supports of Austrian pop group My Excellence with a song called "Come On (Seal the Deal)" which was performed for the first time live on August 28 in a ceremony at the United Nations Office at Vienna attended by Secretary-General Ban.

    "Efforts made today to combat climate change are one of the smartest possible investments we can make in our future," said Ban, "We need to show our support for green stimulus packages and a fair deal in Copenhagen which will determine the path of the global economy and the well-being of hundreds of millions of people throughout the 21st century."