BERLIN - The United Nations' (UN) climate chief said on Wednesday that "alternative hosting options" are currently being explored after Chile has withdrawn as host of this year's UN climate conference (COP25).

Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) based in Bonn, Germany, said in a statement that she was informed of the "decision by the government of Chile not to host COP25 in view of the difficult situation that the country is undergoing."

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced earlier on Wednesday that his country will cancel the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and COP25, citing the need to focus on the social crisis facing the South American country.

COP25 was scheduled to be held from Dec 2 to 13 this year in Santiago, Chile's capital city.