Mr. R.K. Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warned developed nations to become serious on declining carbon emissions before it’s “too late.”

While lecturing at a seminar on “Global Warming and Climate Change Challenge — Issues and Challenges for India,” organised by the Union Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Ministry, Mr. Pachauri said, “Continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to further [global] warming of 1.8 degree Celsius to 4 degree Celsius over the 21st century.”

“The world can at best allow emissions to increase up to 2015 for an equilibrium temperature increase of 2-2.4 degree Celsius” he added.

Mr. Pachauri showed disappointment over the recently-held ‘G8 Summit’ at Japan where leaders remained unsuccessful to locate any target date to slash the greenhouse gas emissions.

“I had expected them to come out with a statement for target date. But lack of political will has marred the purpose of the summit,” he said.

Elaborating on the broad variety of climate change challenges, which face up the worldwide community, Mr. Pachauri said that if mitigation steps were taken sufficiently for the world as a whole, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) loss would be only below 3% that would not be a high price to pay.

There are many co-benefits too, such as energy security, better health and local environment protection, he added.