UN climate talks open in Warsaw, its results could indicate if deal possible in 2015

People walk past special halls set on the pitch of the National Stadium, the venue of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Climate envoys from rich countries, emerging economies and low-lying nations at risk of being swamped by rising seas will meet in Poland Monday for the next two weeks to lay the groundwork for a new global warming pact. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Special halls are set on the pitch of the National Stadium, the venue of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Climate envoys from rich countries, emerging economies and low-lying nations at risk of being swamped by rising seas will meet in Poland Monday for the next two weeks to lay the groundwork for a new global warming pact. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Police officers guard the National Stadium, the venue of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Climate envoys from rich countries, emerging economies and low-lying nations at risk of being swamped by rising seas will meet in Poland Monday for the next two weeks to lay the groundwork for a new global warming pact. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of delegates from nations and environment organizations from around the world have opened two weeks of United Nations climate talks meant to lay the groundwork for a new pact to fight global warming.

U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres told the opening session on Monday that "it is time to go the extra mile" and guarantee greater climate security for the generations to come.

She said a "sobering reality" fact came in the form of Typhoon Haiyan, which took thousands of lives when it hit the eastern seaboard of the Philippines on Friday.

Scientists say you can't conclusively link a single storm to global warming. Also, the link between warming and hurricane activity is unclear. However, rising sea levels are expected to make low-lying nations more vulnerable to storm surges.

Results from the talks in Warsaw could be an indicator of the world's chances of reaching a deal in 2015.