Copenhagen to host UN Summit in 2009

Denmark is to host the UN's very important climate summit in 2009 when a "new Kyoto agreement" is to be finalised. At least 10,000 participants from around the world are expected to attend the summit, which will be the most significant since the Kyoto meeting in 1997.

Earlier this month the EU's state and government leaders set the stage for reaching a new global climate agreement on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2009. The summit is crucial to making the agreement binding on expiry of the Kyoto protocol at the end of 2012, writes Ritzau.

The news that the UN summit will take place in Copenhagen was presented by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Minister of the Environment Connie Hedegaard (C) at a press conference at the Prime Minister's office.

The UN decision to accept Denmark's offer to host the summit was announced at a time when political attention worldwide is at its highest to combat climate change.