'Clock ticking to catastrophe', Ban urges strong climate deal

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivers his speech during the Action Day at the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, December 5, 2015. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - Warning that the "clock is ticking towards climate catastrophe", U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged governments on Monday to agree a strong deal to limit global warming and transform the economy to greener energy.

"Outside these negotiating halls, there is a rising global tide of support for a strong, universal agreement," Ban told environment and foreign ministers at the start of an intense home stretch of the talks, due to end on Friday.