The secretary general of the United Nations is calling on Canada to become more "ambitious and visionary" in dealing with issues like climate change.

In an interview with CBC News, Ban Ki-moon says Canada needs to do more to deal with one of the world's biggest problems.

He told the CBC that the Canadian government needs to look beyond domestic politics in dealing with climate issues that affect the future of the entire planet.

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Ban says climate change is something that transcends national boundaries.

Canada is falling short of meeting its own targets to cut emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020.

Ban says oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia are moving away from using fossil fuels and he's calling on Canada to do the same.

"Canada is an advanced country, you have many ways to make some transformative changes," he told the CBC.

Canada announced last month it will contribute another $300 million to a global fund that helps developing countries address climate change, something the secretary general praised.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada wants to see an international agreement that is binding on all major emitters.