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© Reuters/Jonathan Ernst
Eric Worrall writes: The imminent climate summit in New York is rapidly turning into an utter embarrassment for President Obama and UN Secretary General Bank Ki-Moon, in addition to becoming a bit of a punishment round for national deputy leaders.

Aussie PM Tony Abbott today defended his decision not to hop on an earlier flight to America, so he could attend the UN climate conference in New York, because he has more important matters to attend to, such as running the country.

Tony Abbott defends skipping UN climate change summit in New York

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also indicated they likely won't attend the summit.

Top Leaders From China, India to Skip UN Climate Change Summit

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has indicated he will not be attending

Stephen Harper to skip UN Climate Summit, attend dinner instead

Even Angela Merkel, President of über green Germany, will not be attending the UN climate summit.

Merkel Snubs New York "Ban Ki-Moon" Climate Conference! ... "Burying The Global Climate Agreement"!

Of course, things would probably have been totally different, if the summit organizers had guaranteed that attendees would definitely not have to sit through any more boring climate presentations by former Vice President Al Gore.