DHAKA: The world has a likely chance of meeting the UN’s warming limit of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) if it cuts annual greenhouse gas emissions 40-70 percent by 2050, especially from energy.

A top expert panel said on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

The longer it takes to switch from carbon-polluting fuels to cleaner energy sources, the harder and more expensive the target will become to reach, it said.

It warned that on present trends the planet will be 3.7-4.8 C warmer by 2100 - a level scientists say could be catastrophic.

‘There is a clear message from science: to avoid dangerous interference with the climate system, we need to move away from business as usual,’ said Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chairman of the UN expert group that compiled the document.

BDST: 1641 HRS, APR 13, 2014