Alex Salmond has called on world leaders to put climate change at the top of the political agenda for 2012.

Speaking during his visit to the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, where he is a guest of renewable energy company Masdar, he said the world had a "once in a generation opportunity" to ensure the poorest nations did not suffer from the excesses of the industrialised world.

Mr Salmond met leaders including United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon and Premier Wen Jiabao of China at a majlis - a public meeting - hosted by the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He said: "It is vitally important that, as the world moves towards economic recovery in 2012, we place climate justice at the very heart of the decisions we make on energy policy and economic and social development in the coming months.

“I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enshrine this important principle – that economic development should be linked to human rights – in global energy policy, ensuring that countries and communities least able to cope with the extreme weather events climate change brings are not further disadvantaged.

“In the run up to the UN Rio+20 conference in Brazil in June and beyond, I am calling for climate justice to be made central to decisions taken by major countries on energy and development.

"Scotland’s energy challenges and champions make us a leader in the international sustainability debate. We are also world leaders in the transition to a low carbon economy and in particular the renewables revolution.

"It is only fitting that we should be part of the foremost annual meeting committed to finding solutions to the energy needs of the future.”

The World Future Energy Summit, which is expected to attract more than 26,000 people, brings together world leaders and thinkers committed to promoting advances in the renewables sector.

Mr Salmond is expected to sign a landmark deal on renewable energy with Masdar on Tuesday to develop green energy products using Scottish expertise.

Scotland is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent, from 1990 levels by 2050 and has set an interim target of 42 per cent by 2020.