Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday signed into law legislation to create the National Climate Change Fund, which seeks to secure resources for projects and actions that contribute to mitigating climate change and adaptation to its effects.

Environment Minister Carlos Minc said that priority will be tackling the effects on the most vulnerable regions, like northeast Brazil, where fresh water is not sufficient and the coast faces rising sea levels as a result of global warming.

The entry into force of the fund coincides with the completion of the 15th UN Climate Change Conference which began on Monday in Copenhagen, Denmark.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2009)