UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon promised on Thursday that he will strengthen UN efforts in tackling the challenges posed by global warming.

Addressing an international UN school conference on global warming at the UN General Assembly Hall, Ban said the world has reached a critical stage in its efforts to exercise responsible environmental stewardship.

"The effects of climate change are being felt around the world," he said, referring to the latest assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has established a strong link between human activity and climate change.

"The majority of the United Nations work still focuses on preventing and ending conflict," Ban said. "But the danger posed by war to all of humanity and to our planet is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming."

"That is why action on climate change will be one of my top priorities as Secretary-General," the UN chief stressed, promising that the United Nations will continue to help the international community make the transition to sustainable practices.

"We are preparing for a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Bali in December. More broadly, the UN family is mobilizing all its efforts to address the many challenges posed by global warming," he said, adding that he plans to strengthen this work further.

Meanwhile, Ban called on governments, business and civil society to contribute to efforts against global warming, and said he will discuss the issue of climate change with global leaders during the G-8 summit in June.

"The world needs a more coherent system of international environmental governance," he said. "We need to invest more in green technologies and smarter policies. And we need to do far more to adapt to global warming and its effects."

Ban stressed that there are growing opportunities for innovative businesses to spur progress and innovation through products that push all of us onto more sustainable paths.

"But our efforts should focus particularly on the needs of the poor, who already suffer disproportionately from pollution, disasters and the degradation of resources and land," he claimed. "In particular, plans to implement the Millennium Development Goals should address the added risks posed by climate change."

Source:Xinhua