Outline for U.N. plan on climate change

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The U.N. Foundation and Sigma Xi, a scientific research society, are calling for urgent action to reduce risks from climate change.

"Humanity must act collectively and urgently to change course through leadership at all levels of society," they said in a report released at U.N. World Headquarters in New York Tuesday. "There is no more time for delay."

Key findings revealed that exceeding global average temperature increases 2-2.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level in the year 1750 would entail "sharply increasing risk of intolerable impacts."

The report also said the technology exists to reduce emissions, but policy makers must act immediately by improving efficiency in the transportation sector, improving design of commercial and residential buildings, and expanding the use of bio-fuels through incentives.

"This report defines the seriousness and urgency that must characterize global efforts to respond to the unfolding and far-reaching challenge of climate change," said Timothy Wirth, president of the U.N. Foundation. "There is tremendous economic opportunity in doing so."

The foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner's pledge of a $1 billion donation over 10 years to support U.N. causes. The organization builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world's most pressing problems and works to broaden support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach.