Hundreds of climate activists braved cold winds yesterday to march through Warsaw to campaign against global warming.

The march was held during a two-week UN conference to prepare for a new climate deal expected in 2015.

Singing and dancing protesters walked past the National Stadium, the venue for the talks.

The march was organised by Poland's small Green Party and drew activists from across Europe.

It was heavily escorted by police.

The main banner called for "social justice and positive energy for everyone."

Friends of the Earth campaigners from Germany rolled a giant globe.

Greenpeace members carried pictures of the 30 people arrested in Russia following their protest in the Arctic and demanded their release.

Meanwhile, Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee urged countries to take urgent action on climate change.

The committee, comprising 14 aid agencies, said Typhoon Haiyan was a glimpse of the future for millions who will be at risk from extreme weather.

It said the Warsaw meeting should agree to rapidly cut carbon emissions.

The agencies argued that extreme weather events such as Haiyan follow a growing pattern of threat from climate change.

"This should be a wake-up call for negotiators sleepwalking through a process fraught with delay and indecision," said Oxfam spokesman Max Lawson.

"The images from the Philippines are a reminder that climate change is not about numbers and process, but a growing reality for poor people who desperately need support to protect themselves and build safer futures."