国际英语新闻:Chilean president calls for setting "ambitious" global goals to achieve carbon neutrality

SANTIAGO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday called for increased global efforts to combat climate change, setting "ambitious" goals to achieve carbon neutrality and move toward sustainable development.

During a speech at the Climate Ambition Summit via video link, the president said that Chile has made "very significant progress" on a roadmap to help the country curb harmful emissions no later than 2025.

This plan includes measures such as the total closure of coal power plants before 2040 as well as introducing electric vehicles for the entire public transportation system in the same year, in addition to the reforestation and protection of forests to achieve carbon neutrality before the year of 2050.

Pinera said that "when there is political will, multilateralism and collaboration between countries can be a powerful instrument to advance toward the inclusive and sustainable development of our planet."

"The threat of global warming is real and imminent. Science has spoken out loud and clear. Citizens demand a change of course as a moral imperative. Technology provides us with the tools and common sense urges us to action," he said.

The summit, which aims to make new commitments to tackling climate change and delivering on the Paris Agreement on climate change, was co-convened by the United Nations, the United Kingdom and France, and in partnership with Chile and Italy.