The UN Climate Change Conference opened on Monday in Copenhagen, where negotiators from around the globe will try to seal a deal that is expected to slow rising world temperatures that could bring more heat, expanding deserts, floods and rising sea levels.

More than 15,000 participants, including delegates from more than 190 countries, were taking part in the conference that is seen as offering a historical opportunity to step up international action on climate change.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2009)