PARIS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- French President Jacques Chirac said on Saturday that a new UN environmental agency is needed to better deal with climate challenges.

    Speaking at the conference of the world's top climate scientists held in Paris, Chirac called for a new world environmental body to replace the existing UN Environment Program (UNEP) in order to strengthen the control over the environment.

    More than 40 countries have voiced the support for the proposal, said the French president.