Hundreds of thousands join global climate change protests

People with zebra puppets march during The People's Climate March in London. Credit: PA Wire

Demonstrations are taking place around the world ahead of a major UN conference on climate change on Tuesday.

Over 2,000 protests have taken place in 166 countries.

In London, actress Emma Thompson and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood were among celebrities who took part in the march of thousands of people who processed through central London towards a rally by parliament.

World leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the massive demonstration in New York.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, former United States Vice President Al Gore, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and French Environment Minister Segolene Royal take part in the march in New York. Credit: Reuters

The UN Secretary-General will host a summit of more than 120 world leaders, hoping for "bold pledges" as part of work on a U.N. deal due to be agreed in Paris at the end of 2015 to limit global warming.

The world leaders will continue talks toward a pact 200 nations are working on that would rein in the rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Negotiators aim to complete that deal in late 2015.

Protester in Berlin asked politicians to take stronger action to protect the climate . Credit: Reuters