UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon called on rich countries on Tuesday to make more efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and help developing countries face the challenges of climate change.

"Developed countries in particular can do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage energy efficiency," Ban said in a message marking World Environment Day.

"They can also support clean development in fast-growing economies such as Brazil, China and India, as well as adaptation measures in those countries that face the greatest hardships from climate change," he said.

Turning to the theme of this year's World Environment Day -- " Melting Ice: A Hot Topic,?" Ban said it "reflects the impact that climate change is having in all regions."

Warming effects arising from climate change are not only having profound implications on the people and ecosystems of the Arctic, reducing habitat for vulnerable Arctic species and affecting Arctic indigenous communities who depend on the natural world, not just for food, but for their cultural identity.

Besides, he added, as sea levels rise, inhabitants of low-lying islands and coastal cities throughout the world also face inundation.

And for the one-third of the world's population living in drylands, especially those in Africa, changing weather patterns linked to climate change threaten to exacerbate desertification, drought and food insecurity, the secretary-general noted.

"Society's dependence on fossil fuels is jeopardizing social and economic progress and our future security," he said. " Fortunately, there are many policy and technological options available to avert the impending crisis, but we need increased political will to use them."

"Let us recognize the need to slow the momentum of the dramatic environmental changes we are seeing at the poles and around the globe. And let each of us pledge to do our part to fight climate change," he concluded in the message.

World Environment Day (WED), established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, is marked each year on June 5. It is one of the principle vehicles through which the UN stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and public action.

Source: Xinhua