US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has launched a number of new green energy schemes.

The projects will help combat climate change and accelerate clean energy technology and policies ahead of the December 2015 climate talks in Paris.

He met with global energy leaders at two events: the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) and the sixth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM6) in Merida, Mexico.

At the ECPA, Mr Moniz discussed areas of co-operation in the region with energy ministers from across the Western Hemisphere.

They aim to work towards doubling renewable sources such as solar, wind, small-scale hydropower, sustainable biomass and geothermal by 2030.

At CEM6, Mr Moniz announced three new global challenges which address key technology and policy issues around the world.

Under the CEM Global Lighting Challenge, countries including the US, Sweden and India will establish a global race to reach cumulative sales of 10 billion efficient and affordable lighting products.

Under the CEM Power System Challenge, countries including Denmark, France and the US endorsed a set of principles to help guide their country’s efforts toward clean, reliable, resilient and affordable power systems of the future.

The US also announced efforts to dramatically scale-up the Clean Energy Solutions Center, a CEM initiative which provides real-time, no-cost clean energy expert policy assistance to more than 80 countries around the world.

Mr Moniz said: “ECPA and CEM6 were two vital opportunities for some of the world’s most important clean energy leaders to come together to co-operate on clean energy solutions ahead of climate negotiations in Paris this December.

“The outcome of these two meetings will play an important role in facilitating the world’s transition to a clean energy economy through regional and global co-operation.”