The United Nations' high-level meeting on climate change kicked off Thursday in central Poland, aiming to identify critical elements for a global long-term goal in fighting climate change.

Participants at the high-level meeting include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, four heads of state and government, and 145 environment ministers and senior government representatives.

In his address, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for action on fighting climate change and leadership from the European Union and the United States.

"We look for leadership from the European Union...We look for leadership from the United States," he said.

It is encouraging to hear about the incoming Barack Obama administration's plan to put alternative energy, environmentalism and climate change at the very center of the United States' definition of national security, economic recovery and prosperity, Ban added.

Industrialized countries must set ambitious long-term goals coupled with mid-term emission reduction targets, while developing countries need to limit the growth of their emissions, he said.

The UN chief also hailed some developing countries' efforts to address climate change, saying that China is dedicating one-fourth of its sizable economic stimulus plan to scale up renewable fuels, environmental protection and energy conservation.

The Poznan climate talks, which started on Dec. 1, has drawn more than 10,000 participants and constitutes a half-way mark in negotiations on a possible deal in Copenhagen at the end of 2009, expected to take effect in 2013, the year after the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires.

Referring to the Poznan talks, Ban said the delegates face three challenges -- creating a work plan for next year's negotiations, the key elements of a long-term vision in fighting climate change and a re-commitment to the urgency of addressing the human threat.