Head of World Economic Forum: Climate Change is 'Daunting'

Critical climate change issues continue to attract public attention as one of the most important financial leaders in the world has expressed his fears over the "daunting" challenge.

Rick Samans, head of the Davos-based World Economic Forum, said the global effort to tackle the problem was beginning 10 to 15 years late. He said politicians had to act fast and set targets to cut CO2 emissions.

Mr Samans made his comments at a conference of the world's top 20 polluting nations in Mexico.

"We are behind the curve, there is no doubt that we should have acted 10 or 15 years ago," he told BBC News.

He added that businesses needed much more certainty about emissions targets before committing to investing billions of pounds in clean technology.

"It is very difficult to make a decision about a very expensive piece of equipment that you expect to last up to 50 years if one does not have a sense of the cost of that equipment," Mr Samans said.

He suggested that the delegates were also frustrated by the slow pace of progress, but expressed a degree of optimism that clean technology could be quickly adopted if governments sent out the right signals.

"Having said that, it is not too late because human experience suggests we have underestimated the impact of technological change.

"If we organise ourselves better as an international community across the public and private sectors, there is hope," Mr Samans concluded.

Christian charities like Christian Aid and Tearfund have recognised the danger of climate change and have been raising awareness in the past year through various events and presentations.

"It is time to change the climate of apathy that prevails in our privileged communities and take action to stop global warming devastating the world's most vulnerable countries," said Dr Paula Clifford, head of church communications at Christian Aid.

"Theological reflection must acknowledge a Christian response to climate change is not just about being a good steward of nature but about taking seriously our responsibility towards other human beings, especially the poor."

Thousands of people and numerous Christian organisations are expected to gather in London this November for the 'I Count' climate event to pressure the UK government into taking urgent action on climate change.

The 'I Count' event will be hosted by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition in London's Trafalgar Square from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday 4 November and will also make the call for a radical reduction of worldwide carbon emissions over the next decade.

Later in November, the Queen's Speech could include a landmark bill, which would commit to a Carbon Budget as a way of managing UK greenhouse gas emissions - something environmental and Christian groups like Tearfund have been pushing for.