'One In Six' Species Threatened By Climate Change

One in six species on the planet could face extinction if nothing is done to halt climate change, a study claims.

If current levels of global warming continue, raising Earth's temperature by 4C, 16% of species could be at risk.

Results published in the journal Science show species loss is closely linked to climate change.

Author Dr Mark Urban, from the University of Connecticut in the US, wrote: "Extinction risks from climate change are expected not only to increase but to accelerate for every degree rise in global temperatures.

"The signal of climate change-induced extinctions will become increasingly apparent if we do not act now to limit future climate change."

According to the research South America would be the worst hit with 23% of species affected.

In Australia and New Zealand 14% of species would be affected.

North America and Europe had the smallest proportion of species facing extinction, 5% and 6% respectively.

The research is based on an analysis of 131 different biodiversity studies.

It looked at a range of factors including modelling technique, taxonomic group, location, global temperature and species distribution.

Dr Urban added: "Global extinction risks increase from 2.8% at present to 5.2% at the international policy target of a 2C post-industrial rise, which most experts believe is no longer achievable.

"If the Earth warms to 3C the extinction risk rises to 8.5%. If we follow our current, business-as-usual trajectory ... climate change threatens one in six species (16%)."