An international group of scientists has urged countries at a UN Climate Change Conference to step up their target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Seven Scientists from Japan, Germany, France and others made the appeal in a panel discussion at the Conference in Poland. They referred to a special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The report issued in October says that by as early as 2030, the average global temperature could rise 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

The scientists warned that if the current situation continues, many areas around the world could be seriously affected by heavy rain and rising sea levels.

They said higher targets for emissions reductions are needed to limit the temperature rise under the Paris climate change accord.

One of the scientists, Mikiko Kainuma from Japan, said the effects of extreme heat and typhoons this summer are evident, and that policymakers should set ambitious targets.