The Summit on Climate Change has held its opening ceremony in New York City. The summit scheduled to officially open on Tuesday, is a forum for world leaders and governments to find some common ground leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon hopes world leaders will act globally, and not with national interests, to advance negotiations and discuss fundamental issues. Also attending the opening were former British Prime Minister and leader of Breaking the Climate Deadlock Initiative, Tony Blair and Tony-award winning Broadway and Hollywood actor, Hugh Jackman.