Climate change and its menaces should be dealt with promptly to reduce possible threats to the well-being of people worldwide.

Environmental advocates and scientists are meeting in London possibly to come up with preventive measures against climate change which could lead to water and food scarcity, breakdown of countries' ecosystems, damages to the environment, proliferation of diseases and conflict between nations.

During the opening of the conference hosted by the British Medical Journal, British Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Chris Hune exhorted government leaders and policy makers to collaborate closely in limiting the effects of the world's environmental problems, according to reports filed by the United Press International.

For almost a century, the practice has been to burn more coal and oil for residences, factories and transportation which emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Information from the U.S. National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) revealed that climate change has resulted in rising sea levels, melting of the Arctic sea ice that could mean changes in ocean circulation, decline in crop productivity, warming of sea surface temperatures, thawing of glaciers in all parts of the world, heavy rainfall that causes more floods and shifting ecosystems.

The conference participants have issued a public statement that climate change may produce a global health tragedy if not properly managed.

Nations are meeting at Durban, South Africa for a Climate Summit before the end of this year.

However, climate diplomats from the EU and the U.S., two of the world's biggest carbon emitters have stated that a legally binding pact on climate change may not be realized even if there is a consensus that a treaty is indeed necessary, the UK Guardian reported.

The gathering of the world's 17 top economies will tackle possible efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, enhance the supply of clean energy and lessen global warming.

The Cancún Agreement in Mexico was able to formulate a process that would work towards establishing the global and legally binding deal many observers believe will be important to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

However, it remains to be seen if the Durban meet could sustain this commitment.

The Cancun High-level meeting prodded both rich and developing nations to control greenhouse gas emissions and put up a Green Climate Fund to provide financial help to poorer nations bearing the brunt of climate change, according to the Guardian.