UN chief hails outcome of climate talks

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday welcomed the outcome of the climate talks that concluded in Warsaw on the same day, calling the result "an important stepping stone" toward future global climate pact.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban congratulated Poland for successfully hosting the UN Climate Change Conference. "The decisions adopted in Warsaw serve as an important stepping stone toward a universal legal agreement in 2015," he said.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by parties to intensify immediate actions to fight climate change and to come forward with their national contributions to the agreement well before its finalization in 2015," said the statement.

The UN chief stressed that much more needs to be done over the coming two years to achieve the ambitious agreement necessary to keep the global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius.

To further increase global ambition and advance concrete action, Ban looks forward to hosting a climate summit in September 2014, according to the statement.

"He has asked world leaders, as well as leaders from business, finance, local government and civil society, to bring bold announcements and actions that will lead to significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and strengthened adaptation and resilience efforts," the statement said.

The two-week-long negotiations on Saturday agreed on some major principles for a new global climate pact due to be agreed on in 2015 and enter into force after 2020, according to which, all countries should prepare intended nationally determined contributions to help cut carbon emissions.

The agreement was seen as a key step paving the way for all countries to reach an ambitious global climate pact in 2015, and a sign of their desire to avert a breakdown of the climate talks.