Brussels, Belgium – The impacts of climate change are here and now and will only get worse, according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The IPCC report has concluded that rising temperatures caused by human-induced climate change over the last several decades are having an impact on people and the environment.
Rising sea levels threaten the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who live less than one metre above sea level. In addition, the effects of climate change are altering the planet's ecology, causing species extinction and undermining economic and social development.
"The global warming report represents the tip of the iceberg," says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF's Global Climate Change Programme. "There's no escaping the facts that global warming will bring hunger, floods and water shortages...climate change is putting us all at risk."
   "Doing nothing is not an option," Verolme adds. "On the contrary, it will have disastrous consequences. The industrialized countries simply need to accept their responsibilities and start implementing the solutions."
IPCC experts clearly state that some climate change is already unavoidable, but there is still time to protect against some of the most disastrous effects. Such a response must come as part of a broad and rapid change of development strategies which looks to avoid significant CO2 emissions. The urgency of the IPCC report, prepared by the world's top scientists, should be matched with an equally urgent response by governments.
"We have all the tools at hand to limit climate change and save the world from the worst impacts," says Dr Lara Hansen, Chief Scientist of WWF's Global Climate Change Programme.
"The IPCC makes it clear that there is a window of opportunity but that it's closing fast. The world needs to use its collective brains to think ahead and work together to prevent this crisis."