U.N. chief call for action on clean energy

The U.N. secretary general is calling on governments and the private sector to step up their commitments to support the spread of sustainable energy, saying it can help alleviate poverty and combat climate change.

Ban Ki-moon has made sustainable development his top priority over the next five years.

He told delegates at the World Future Energy Summit Monday that he wants to see the world double its share of renewable energy, which typically includes wind, solar and hydropower, by 2030. He also called for providing universal access to energy services by that date.

The summit also featured speeches on renewable energy from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang—sik.