United Nations, Sep 23 (IANS): The UN Climate Summit opened here Tuesday with an appeal from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for global action to address climate change.

"Climate change threatens hard-won peace, prosperity and opportunity for billions of people," Ban said during his opening remarks. "Today we must set the world on a new course."

Declaring climate change the defining issue of our time, Ban told the delegates: "We need all hands on deck."

"I am asking you to lead," he said. "We are not here to talk. We are here to make history."

Opening at 8 a.m., the summit started with a video produced by Lyn Lear and narrated by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, Xinhua reported.

It draws more than 120 heads of state and government to announce their vision and commitments, as well as make announcements on actions that will reduce emissions, enhance resistance to climate change and mobilise financing for climate action.

The UN Climate Summit is expected to set the stage for a crucial conference in Paris in December 2015 aimed at finalising a new global climate change pact.