Newspapers Worldwide Back Climate Fight

In an unprecedented show of broad support for climate action, newspapers in 45 countries have entreated world leaders to work toward a substantial agreement to curb global warming at next week's international summit in Copenhagen.

Newspapers including the Miami Herald published shared editorials, calling on leaders such as President Obama to act pragmatically and work toward an agreement at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference, intended to produce a pact outlining future efforts to combat global warming and reduce carbon pollution.

"Newspapers have never done anything like this before," said Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief of The Guardian. "[B]ut they have never had to cover a story like this before."

The editorials did not mince words on the threat facing the planet: "[H]umanity faces a profound emergency," it said. "The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation."

The editorials, which garnered front page placement in many publications, called on representatives of the nearly 200 countries gathered in the Danish capital to refrain from bickering and "seize opportunity from the greatest failure of modern politics."

The editorial was published in 20 languages in papers ranging from Italy's La Repubblica and Politiken in Denmark to The Cambodia Daily, the Irish Times and the Toronto Star.