UN climate talks kick off in Warsaw

The annual UN global climate talks started here Monday amid hopes that progress will be made toward the signing of a new climate deal by 2015, though no major breakthrough is expected.

Thousands of representatives from nearly 200 nations gathered in the National Stadium for the two-week negotiations, formally known as the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP19, Xinhua reported.

Polish Environment Minister Marcin Korolec, who was elected at the opening session as COP19 president, pledged that utmost efforts would be made to reach global consensus, citing transparency and an inclusive process as his top priorities.

"One country or one group cannot make a difference... but everyone can offer an ingredient of the medicine," Korolec said, calling for collective action from all parties.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres warned that the next generation would face a "monumental uphill struggle" against climate change.

"We must win the Warsaw opportunity," Figueres said, highlighting increased collective capacity and ground swell of climate action worldwide.

"The world is showing actions, but it is time to go (the) extra miles," she said, urging faster and stronger global moves for a sustainable future.

Both Korolec and Figueres mentioned typhoon Haiyan that has killed more than 10,000 people in the Philippines as a "painful awakening" from the changing climate.