Ban Ki-moon hails climate pact as Earth's 'health insurance'

Terming the Paris climate change deal as ‘a health insurance policy for the planet’, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on all nations to turn their commitments on reducing emissions into urgent and decisive action.

"The countries of the world have made a historic choice," Secretary General Ban told reporters in United Nations on Monday on his return from the climate conference in Paris.

"The Paris Agreement is a victory for people, for the common good, and for multilateralism.

“It is a health insurance policy for the planet," Ban said.

"Now I count on governments, and all sectors of society, to turn these commitments into urgent, decisive action," he added.

Describing the climate agreement as the most significant action in years to uphold the UN Charter mandate to ‘save succeeding generations’, Ban said nations have unanimously decided to work as one to rise to the defining challenge of current times.

"For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and act internationally and domestically to address climate change," he said.

The 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on Saturday adopted the Paris Agreement after two weeks of intensive negotiations at the summit.

The accord covers all crucial areas identified as essential for a landmark conclusion: mitigation -- reducing emissions fast enough to achieve the temperature goal; a transparency system and global stock-take -- accounting for climate action; adaptation and support -- including finance, for nations to build clean, resilient futures.

Ban said it embodies a successful new approach to global cooperation on climate change, with countries acknowledging that their national interest is best served by acting for the common good by transforming the global economy to low-emission, climate-resilient growth.

"It marks a decisive turning point in the global quest for a safer, more sustainable and prosperous future," he stressed.

"It will save lives, improve human well-being and promote more peaceful, stable societies."

He highlighted the agreement as one of his top priorities since the day he became UN Secretary-General.