United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has said that he is hopeful of an ambitious universal agreement at the Paris Climate Summit, according to the Asian News International news agency (ANI).

Speaking at the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Ban hoped that the talks could build momentum ahead of the climate conference early next week.

The 53-nation Commonwealth bloc has agreed to set up a billion-dollar Green Finance Facility for environmental projects.

Billions of dollars in environmental aid were announced as cities worldwide prepared for marches to pressure leaders heading for Paris to negotiate a historic pact to tame global warming.

Meanwhile, talks will open under tight security following the Paris attacks.

AZERTAC