Fiji, Oct. 8 -- UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell says the world must urgently act to keep the expected breach of the 1.5degC warming limit as short and as small as possible, warning that climate impacts are already escalating.

Speaking at the Pacific Pre-COP31 in Fiji, Stiell said the 1.5degC limit remained essential for the survival of small island states, even as science indicates the threshold will be exceeded.

"Limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius is demanded by science, agreed by nations, and essential for the survival of small islands - including here in the Pacific, and in my region, the Caribbean

"But science is telling us that overshoot of 1.5 is now inevitable," Stiell said.

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