UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK: Senator Loren Legarda delivered the policy statement on sustainable development at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City Monday afternoon (New York time) urging world ministers to refocus attention on "climate-related disasters" amidst the global financial crisis.

Top world ministers and policymakers from 190 nations gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York City for the Plenary Session of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the UN General Assembly.

Legarda reminded policymakers and ministers of a "real risk" that the awareness campaign waged for decades by advocates may be "eclipsed" by recent global financial events. In the speech, Legarda emphasized that the challenge for world leaders now are "how to sustain a strong focus on climate change and how to reduce climate-related disasters more effectively.