New Delhi, Sep 27

Governments have been handed a firm mandate to act decisively on the climate crisis by a report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC report made it clear that human activities were responsible for climate change, the Climate Action Network (CAN) Friday said.

The Climate Action Network - a group of 850 NGOs - said for the first time, the IPCC gave a global budget of one trillion tonnes for the total amount of carbon pollution that cannot be exceeded if we are to meet the international goal of preventing devastating levels of global warming that will occur beyond two degrees Celsius.

"The situation at hand requires immediate action. Climate impacts are continuing to mount, and we need to reduce pollution levels quickly and drastically," said Sanjay Vashist, director, CAN (South Asia).

The IPCC report confirms that the planet is heating up, sea level rise is accelerating, the rate of Arctic sea ice retreat has doubled, the melting of glaciers and ice sheets is happening faster, and the oceans are acidifying.

"This report shows that the science on climate change is clear. The debate about who is responsible is over. It is time that governments take action to address this issue in an effective manner, and not through half-hearted efforts," Vashist said.

Voicing similar views, Greenpeace called for action by government on climate change.

"The only logical response to a warning of this magnitude is immediate action (by government)," said Jai Krishna, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

The IPCC report underlines "unequivocal and unprecedented" warming of the climate system.

Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in IIED's (International Institute for Environment and Development) climate change group said it is time for national interests to give way to the global good.

"Climate change ignores borders, but so do friendship and solidarity. I hope the strong message from IPCC will galvanise actions by politicians and public around the world," said Hug, coordinating lead author in another IPCC report. 

by:IANS