New York - UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner joined the chorus for climate change action following the release of a UN report that delivers a warning on warming temperatures.

“The latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report provides a stark reminder of what it would take to keep temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid some of the more dangerous scenarios of climate change. Bottom line: it can be done, but we have almost run out of time,” Steiner said.

The special report from IPCC, released Monday 8 October, made the case for urgent action around the world to keep global warming to within a 1.5-degree Celsius increase, or face more frequent and more powerful weather events, and a worsening quality of life for millions of people.

Within 10-30 years, the report indicates, world temperatures could rise by more than 3 degrees. This could lead to an exacerbation of poverty, and the most vulnerable will be the hardest hit by effects of rising sea-levels, increased droughts, flash floods and extreme weather.

The report indicates that by minimizing the temperature rise to half a degree by 2050, several hundred million fewer people will be exposed to risk and will be less susceptible to falling into poverty.

While the outlook is dire, Steiner says action can make a difference. He said that UNDP continues to work with partners to support countries to make the move toward sustainable development, while curbing rising tides.  

For more information on the IPCC report, visit http://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/

And for more information on UNDP’s Climate Change work around the world, visit our website www.undp.org.