Ban Ki-moon has joined ecological campaign groups in calling for the world's governments to take decisive action against climate change.

The United Nations secretary general is planning to campaign on the issue between now and the commencement of the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.

He warned that there is little time left to act to combat climate change and called on politicians to show genuine leadership in order to ensure the right agreements are reached in Copenhagen.

Politicians often use financial factors as an excuse for failing to take effective action on green issues, but Mr Ban showed signs he is prepared to fight them on that battleground by insisting that a green economy is the only kind of workable economy.

"We need to show our support for green stimulus packages and a fair deal in Copenhagen which will determine the path of the global economy and the well-being of hundreds of millions of people throughout the 21st century," the UN official said.

With millions of people doing their bit to save the planet by implementing energy saving measures and adopting greener lifestyles, it is great to hear that their values are shared by such a high-profile figure.

But, it will take more than just words to make a real difference, which is why the general public and ecological campaigners must keep up the pressure on politicians all the way to Copenhagen - and beyond.