Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 07:05 EST
VALENCIA, Spain — The Nobel-winning panel of world climate experts on Monday launched a debate over a landmark report after a top U.N. official warned any failure to curb global warming would be "criminally irresponsible."
"The effects of climate change are being felt already," Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said.
"Climate change will hit hardest the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Its overall effect, however, will be felt by everyone and will in some cases threaten people's very survival."
"Failing to recognize the urgency of this message and acting on it would be nothing less than criminally irresponsible," he said.
De Boer was speaking at the start of a meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The U.N. forum of scientists, economists and other experts won this year's Nobel Peace Prize alongside climate campaigner and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
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