UN chief discusses climate change with world leaders ahead of Paris conference

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday discussed climate change in a video conference call with the presidents of France, Peru and Turkey, as well as with the Chancellor of Germany and Prime Minister of Malta, ahead of the Paris climate change conference.

He received an update from President Francois Hollande of France on preparations for the Paris climate change conference, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily briefing here. "That update was part of a series of consultations that the Secretary-General has been holding with world leaders on expectations for the Paris conference."

The secretary-general also followed up on the leaders' meeting he convened on the Sept. 27 on the sidelines of the General Assembly, with an aim to achieve a successful outcome at the COP meeting in Paris, said Dujarric.

Ban is also expected to speak with South African President Jacob Zuma in the next day or so, said Dujarric. "He(Zuma) had been scheduled to take part in a video conference but there was a scheduling challenge."

Also on Friday, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced that its Board has approved its first investments for projects in eight countries: three projects in Africa, three in Asia-Pacific region, and two in Latin America.

The Secretary-General has been calling on governments to contribute to the Fund to enhance trust among the Parties who have been working together for the last two years to craft a new climate change agreement, said Dujarric.

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Paris, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. The objective is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate. Endit