Speaking via video link from the UN in New York to open an international globalisation forum in Sweden, Annan urged civil society groups to pressure governments to work harder to tackle problems such as climate change and poverty.

"Leaders continue to be too economically defensive and not courageous enough. We need pressure especially from civil society. We can't leave it to governments alone to tackle these problems," he said.

"The energy, environment, and economic equation is often downplayed and this creates frustration. The current use of energy is unsustainable," Annan said.

Around 400 political, economic, social and business leaders from around the world have gathered at the Swedish resort village of Taellberg for a four-day forum on the negative impact of globalisation on the environment and human rights.

Among those attending include Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States Prince Turki al-Farsi, as well as Swedish Foreign Minister and president of the UN General Assembly, Jan Eliasson.

Participants will work towards a consensus, to be presented at the end of the forum, on how to tackle poverty, limited energy resources, climate change and population growth.

They will also discuss international security and its impact on human rights.

The founder of the Taellberg Forum, Bo Ekman, said increased globalisation has put the world on the path towards "messing up the future."

"We can't escape the consequences of our actions and inactions. Our feet are hard on the accelerator of growth, not development. Unless something is done, the future holds the promise of a big mess," he said.

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