Climate change is a serious global challenge and the new US administration is ready to play a leadership role in dealing with this challenge, a senior US official said on Thursday.

"If left unchecked, global (climate) change will create violent conflict, torrential storms, shrinking coastlines, and irreversible catastrophe," said Valerie Jarrett, US President Barack Obama's assistant for intergovernmental relations.

"President Obama has made it clear that the US is ready to lead a global effort to combat climate change," Jarrett told a special session of the World Economic Forum annual meeting.

Jarrett said Obama had named a US global climate envoy to signal the administration's commitment to seeking a global solution to climate change.

Obama has made it clear that "we Americans will do more to develop new energy, raise fuel efficiency standards, and address greenhouse gas emissions," she said.

She also highlighted the need for global cooperation and the unleashing of "all our creativity and dedication" to solve the climate change problem.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2009)