UNITED NATIONS, March 9 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Friday the European Union (EU) decision to establish targets for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in the battle against global warming, saying the moves can help put the world's energy systems on more sustainable footing.

    In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban said "in the face of rising greenhouse gas emissions, committing to a substantial decrease for the next decade is ambitious."

    However, he observed that ambition and leadership are just what is needed to respond to climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing humankind.

    Noting that the EU's moves offer business strong incentives to develop the advanced technologies that the world, above all the developing world, needs to meet its energy needs while at the sametime addressing climate change, Ban said the decision raises hopes for further advances in the course of this year.

    "In particular, the world looks to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December, to launch intensive talks on strengthening international cooperation to reduce emissions," he said, and called on all countries to participate in these talks with ambition and creativity. ¡¡