Time to turn words into climate action: IMF chief

Washington: Words must be put into action to save the planet, IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned, after envoys from 195 nations approved in Paris Saturday a historic accord to stop global warming.

The post-2020 Paris Agreement ends decades-long rows between rich and poor nations over how to carry out what will be a multi-trillion dollar campaign to cap global warming and cope with the impacts of a shifting climate.

"The Paris Agreement is a critical step forward for addressing the challenge of global climate change in the 21st century," Lagarde said in a statement.

"Governments must now put words into actions, in particular by implementing policies that make effective progress on the mitigation pledges they have made."

Lagarde stressed that "my key message is to price carbon right and to do it now."

"Charging for the emissions of fossil fuels puts in place the needed incentives for low-carbon investments," she said.

With 2015 forecast to be the hottest year on record, world leaders and scientists say the accord is vital for capping rising temperatures and averting the most calamitous impacts from climate change.