Obama says developed nations have responsibility to lead in dealing with climate change

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that developed countries had a responsibility to lead in dealing with climate change.

U.S. President Barack Obama (F) addresses the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Change Summit at the UN headquarters in New York Sept. 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Speaking at the UN Climate Change Summit, which kicked off Tuesday at the UN headquarters, Obama said "the developed nations that caused much of the damage to our climate over the last century still have a responsibility to lead."

"And we will continue to do so - by investing in renewable energy, promoting greater efficiency, and slashing our emissions to reach the targets we set for 2020 and our long-term goal for 2050," he said.