Brown says five urgent challenges for G20 Pittsburgh summit

LONDON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there are five urgent challenges that next week's UN meeting and G20 Summit in America must seek to address, local media reported on Sunday.

Brown said world leaders must agree common action to prevent climate change, fight terrorism, end nuclear proliferation, overcome poverty and secure prosperity.

He said tough negotiations lie ahead, but countries must increase their efforts to tackle key challenges such as the economy.

Brown said "this is the time to redouble our efforts and I have proposed a new global compact for growth, jobs and prosperity to be shared across the world. Leadership, vision and courage are required. It will not be easy. Tough negotiations lie ahead."

"But be clear - my priorities will be ensuring that people's jobs are protected and created, that the recovery happens and that we build a safer, fairer and greener Britain," he added.

Official figures showed that unemployment rate has risen above 2.5 million for the first time since 1995, triggered by a global slump in demand for goods and services.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) warned that it is still possible that Britain suffers a "jobs-loss recovery" in which unemployment peaks at more than 3.5 million and takes a decade to get back to previous levels.

The CIPD said this could happen if there is "a weak and uncertain economic recovery, marked by continued fear of a double-dip recession, with a cutbacks in recruitment, a renewed bout of redundancies as employers find it increasingly difficult to hold on to staff retained during the initial recession."