Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu on Sunday branded climate change a "huge, huge enemy" that threatened the common home of humanity, imperilling rich and poor alike.

At a rally on the eve of the 12-day UN climate talks in Durban, Tutu said that after the battle to crush apartheid, mankind must now unite in the goal of conquering carbon.

One the great figures in the effort to end whites-only rule, the 80-year-old former archbishop thanked other countries that had backed the long campaign, especially those in Africa who had taken in refugees and the children of anti-apartheid fighters.

"Now we are facing another huge, huge enemy. And no one, no country can fight that enemy on his own... an enemy called global warming, climate change," he said.

"We have only one home. This is the only home we have. And whether you are rich or poor, this is your only home... you are members of one family, the human race."

He added: "You who are rich, you have to come to our side. And we will be waiting for you, on the other side.."

The rally in Durban's King's Park stadium, staged by religious groups, alternated between speeches and music, with the main theme being of "climate justice."

But the turnout was sparse, with only a few hundred attending.

A 12-day conference of the 194-nation UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opens in the South African port city on Monday.

Forged nearly 20 years ago, the UNFCCC process is in deep trouble, mired by bickering over how to share out the burden of cutting the greenhouse-gas emissions that cause global warming.

Poor tropical countries that are least to blame for causing the fossil-fuel emissions that cause the problem are likely to be hit hardest, according to scientists."

Likely impacts include worsening drought, floods, storms and rising sea levels, with the potential to increase the problems of hunger, homelessness and poverty.

S.Africa readies 2,500 police for UN climate talks
Cape Town (AFP) Nov 25, 2011 - South Africa will deploy 2,500 police officers to the UN climate talks starting in Durban next week, ready to stamp out any violent protests, the police minister warned on Friday.

"Police will not tolerate criminal acts that are disguised as demonstrations, which in some cases include destruction of property and intimidations," said minister Nathi Mthethwa.

"We will unapologetically deal with such criminal acts decisively and we require no permission from anyone. Should such incidents occur, we will as demonstrated before, ensure that those who commit such acts face the wrath of the law to its fullest."

The government has given the nod to a civil society march next Saturday.

The talks' venue and surrounding grounds will come under UN responsibility while South African police is in charge of perimeter security.

"We have reviewed our plan and we are ready. Police will be everywhere, ready for any eventuality," Mthethwa said.

"We will have over 2,500 designated officers around the event precinct, and many others at the points of entries into the country, that is, airports, harbours and border gates."

The talks start Monday and run until December 9 and are seen as make or break for the Kyoto Protocol whose commitments to curb carbon emissions are set to expire.