The United Nations Secretary-General is urging world leaders to create a fund to fight the effects of climate change.

Ban Ki-moon spoke Monday in Bangladesh at a meeting of about 30 countries highly affected by climate change.

The representatives of the countries are meeting in Dhaka to agree on a united front ahead of U.N. climate talks later this year in South Africa.

Mr. Ban has called on governments to create a substantial Green Climate Fund at the South African meeting to help countries fight the impact of global warming. The U.N. leader says climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution, and it is unfair to ask the poorest and most vulnerable to bear the costs of combating its effects.

Mr. Ban also called on participants at the Climate Vulnerable Forum to support his call for a “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative.