A group of climate experts have responded to a Guardian poll which revealed that hundreds of the world's leading climate scientists are predicting global warming above the international target of 1.5°C. In response, the UN issued a warning of an impending climate cliff.

The declarations of some of the most respected climate figures are a sign of deep despair that must act as a wake-up call for urgent and radical action to end the use of fossil fuels and save millions of lives and livelihoods. According to many experts the 1.5°C target hangs in the balance , but it is not yet necessary that it be exceeded if a dramatic change in the pace of climate action is to be achieved.

The Guardian gathered the views of nearly 400 senior authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. Almost 80 %s expect an increase of at least 2.5°C from pre-industrial levels, a catastrophic level of warming, while only 6 %s think it will stay within the 1.5°C limit. Many expressed their personal concerns about the lack of climate action. (Francesca Zavettieri, more at meteoweb.eu)