Merkel to bolster political standing
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Angela Merkel, German chancellor, will today seek to build on her success as a climate change powerbroker by calling on members of the United Nations to take”concerted action” on the issue by the end of this year, her aides said yesterday.
The German leader, who won international praise in June for finding consensus with the US on global warming at the G8 rich nations’ summit in northern Germany, will tell the UN General Assembly that unity with emerging economies is needed to limit greenhouse emissions by mid-century.
Yet Ms Merkel’s speech - her first appearance as chancellor before the UN - is also being seen in Berlin as reinforcing her strong domestic standing, at a time of increasing political strains within her ruling coalition on security and other issues.
Her UN speech is also seen in political circles as a snub to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, foreign minister, who would usually represent Germany at the UN.
Although Mr Steinmeier has a good working relationship with the chancellor, he is being eyed with increasing caution by Ms Merkel’s Christian Democrats. The Social Democratic foreign minister has emerged in recent months as a possible contender alongside Ms Merkel for the chancellorship in national elections in 2009.
Ms Merkel’s spokesman denied any snub, arguing that Berlin’s G8 presidency meant it was appropriate for her to travel to New York.
The chancellor will also address reform of the UN, a senior adviser said, noting that Berlin believed Security Council expansion - including a permanent seat for Germany - was “unavoidable” in the long term.
Filed by Ivana Jankovic under The Environment, Climate Change, United Nations Reform