U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for concrete action to combat climate change and its increasing global impact.

Addressing the U.N. climate change conference in Durban, South Africa Tuesday, Mr. Ban said that a binding worldwide agreement to fight climate change is likely out of reach for now.

But he urged nations to take at least incremental steps, including a new commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, which requires member nations to reduce carbon emissions blamed for global warming.

He also called on wealthy nations to fund programs meant to help poorer countries adapt to the effects of climate change.

The talks in Durban, which end this Friday, have yet to produce any tangible results. Several countries have rejected the idea of extending the Kyoto Protocol. The United States never signed on to the agreement.