UNITED NATIONS, Nov 20: The United Nations Secretary General has called upon foreign ministers to use their influence for smoothing differences over financing for climate initiatives as a way of realising the goal of an agreement on climate change by 2015.

“This can do more than anything to unlock the huge investment necessary for climate change adaptation and mitigation,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a ministerial-level meeting on the margins of the UN-led climate change talks under way in the Polish capital, Warsaw.

“We must send the right policy signals,” Ban said, adding that the development of high-impact opportunities would unlock clean energy investments, close the viability gap between green and fossil fuel-based projects and de-risk renewable energy and low-carbon investments.

He called for public finance, private finance, and support to the Green Climate Fund as three areas for common action.

“Smart public financing can encourage local and international private investments,” the UN chief said, urging investors and companies to join forces with the public sector.