World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Lou Leonard, head of climate change programs, in response to today's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report highlighting the immediate need to curb carbon emissions and address climate change:
“The report confirms what people are seeing first-hand: more extreme weather and ominous warning signs that the planet's natural systems are slipping out of balance. The signs are everywhere – rising seas worsening coastal flooding, devastating western wildfires forcing families from their homes, and retreating Arctic sea ice harming walruses and their young. These impacts have jumped off the pages of reports like this and into our daily lives.
“The good news is that individuals, cities and businesses are beginning to do their part to prepare for this changing world and reduce the carbon pollution that is fueling these extremes. An all-hands-on-deck approach to tackling climate change is critical to reversing the steadily rising emissions we’ve seen over the last century.
“Government needs to do more at every opportunity. In the US, meeting our nation’s climate commitments requires an all-of-government approach to slashing emissions and moving toward a renewable energy future. Last week's action by EPA to clean up new electric power plants is one piece of the puzzle.
“Starting with negotiations over aviation pollution this week in Montreal, events in the coming months will show whether US and international leaders have the courage to act on this information and lead a head-on assault against skyrocketing emissions."