The world needed to be mobilized and made aware of the existential threat posed to humankind by the accelerating change in the Earth's climate caused largely by human activity. Together with those with whom he worked closely, Ban Ki-moon resolved to elevate climate change to a leaders-level issue, to mobilize the world to confront it frontally and, in the process, to help achieve a truly global climate change agreement. The 178 countries which participated at the Summit also adopted the voluntary Agenda 21, which provided a blueprint for development that simultaneously supported environmental protection, economic growth and a better quality of life for all. This principle balanced the need for all Parties to the Convention to take responsibility for addressing climate change with the recognition that there were wide differences in the level of social and economic development between Parties, thus requiring leadership from developed countries given their historical responsibilities.