TEMPO.CO, Lyon - French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday that money is the main roadblock to a global accord at a U.N. climate conference in Paris this year.

Poor countries need investment to adapt to climate change, and rich countries need to invest in cleaner technologies if all agree in December on binding global reductions in the emissions that heat the planet.

The "financing dimension" is the most challenging issue, Hollande told a meeting in Lyon of mayors from around the world. "That's where everything will be played out."

He said France is ready to offer aid to poor countries to encourage them to join a deal.

Hundreds of mayors, CEOs and trade groups from around the world are submitting their ideas for reducing global warming to the French government as it prepares to host a major U.N. climate conference later this year.

Hollande spoke to the group in Lyon on Wednesday — the hottest day of the year so far in parts of France.

The meeting is part of France's strategy to get as many people implicated in climate negotiations as possible, to increase the pressure on world leaders to reach a global accord to reduce emissions.

French development minister Annick Girardin told the gathering that it's often easier for municipal leaders to prevent climate disasters and clean up towns than it is for governments worldwide to agree on emissions targets.

AP