The ongoing financial recession and climate change are two crises that present the world a great opportunity to address both challenges simultaneously, he added.

"Managing the global financial crisis requires massive global stimulus, a big part of that spending should be an investment - an investment in a green future," Ban said.

"The economic crisis is serious. Yet when it comes to climate change, the stakes are far higher...the climate crisis affects our potential prosperity and our people's lives, both now and far into the future."

The high-level segment of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gathering will focus on a shared vision for a long-term goal in fighting climate change.

A shared vision on cooperative action on climate change, which will focus on emission cut targets for industrialized countries, has been the source of dispute.

Countries are arguing over whether a long-term goal of cutting emissions by 2050 or a mid-term goal of emission curbs by 2020 by developed countries should come first.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski also addressed the opening session of the high-level meeting by calling for urgent action on climate change.

UN climate chief Yvo de Boer told the assembled ministers that the meeting was an opportunity to move on along the course of fighting climate change. He also stressed the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in fighting such change.

"It's time to give meaning to the term leadership. It's time for you to tell the world how you will send the world a clear signal from Poznan that you are pushing towards Copenhagen in close cooperation," said de Boer.

The conclusion of the two-day high-level meeting Friday will mark the end of the two-week long Poznan climate talks aimed at sealing a deal for the Copenhagen meeting.

However, the talks have been overshadowed by the ongoing financial crisis and the pending U.S. position on climate change at a time of power transition.

The possibility of a substantial Copenhagen deal seems faint as U.S. President-elect Obama may not be able to set formal emissions targets within a year, some experts say.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2008)