I urge you to sign this Appeal to World Leaders to Commit to CO2 Reductions in line with Scientific Recommendations. Please go to MoveOn.org and sign up: http://goo.gl/rv7c0uThe United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris is only a few weeks away. This global conference is our last chance to tackle catastrophic climate change. If the negotiations fail, there is no plan B - COP21 is effectively the end of the line.In 1992 the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations". Since then we have endured failed negotiations, broken promises, distant targets and shattered hope.When world leaders meet for COP21 they must commit to effective and practical steps to prevent average global temperature increases of above 2C. According to climate scientists, existing pledges by governments fall short of achieving this target, which itself is woefully inadequate. Even now many countries are starting to feel the devastating impact of climate change.In the last 250 years, average global temperatures have already increased by 1.0C. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted by governments up to now, even if fully implemented, will actually increase warming to around 2.7C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. For decades, scientists have been warning us about the threats of climate change and its impact on the world: How parts of Africa, South Asia and Latin America will heat up more and more, with temperatures becoming increasingly intolerable. How rising sea levels will endanger billions of people, particularly those in low-lying countries such as Bangladesh, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives, as well as people in cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, New York and London. How melting glaciers will flood river valleys and then, when they have disappeared, unprecedented droughts will occur. Pope Francis issued a dire warning to the world when addressing the UN General Assembly: "The ecological crisis, and the large-scale destruction of biodiversity, can threaten the very existence of the human species." World leaders can no longer ignore the warnings. COP21 is their last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change. They must deliver a comprehensive, just and legally binding climate agreement with adequate provisions for mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, Green Climate Fund financial investments, technology development and transfer, and implementation mechanisms, with safeguards for traditional communities, indigenous peoples' rights and an emphasis on human rights and gender equality. They must commit to ensure the integrity and resilience of natural ecosystems, restore degraded and deforested land and to transfer subsidies from fossil fuel and nuclear to renewable energy. We must not forget that we are fighting for our survival, the survival of our children and our children's children - the survival of future generations. Beyond that, we are fighting for the preservation of all life on Earth.We appeal to world leaders to do what is necessary to protect and safeguard life on earth - to commit to CO2 reduction targets in line with the best available scientific knowledge to prevent catastrophic climate change.I urge you to go to MoveOn.org and sign this Appeal to World Leaders: http://goo.gl/rv7c0uSince the launch of the petition we have received a tremendous response and have the support of:Bianca Jagger, Founder and President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights FoundationFrederic Mion, President of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po)Craig Calhoun, Director of the London School of Economics (LSE)Archbishop Emeritus Desmond TutuFrom academia:Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Report on Climate Change and Human Rights and Principal of Mansfield CollegeJohn Joughin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London (UEL)Erik Berglof, Director of the Institute of Global Affairs (LSE)Alan Rusbridger, Principal Lady Margaret Hall and former editor of The GuardianAnna Grear, Director of the Global Network for the Study of Human Rights and the Environment (GNHRE)Karen Morrow, Editor of the Journal of Human Rights and the EnvironmentTom Kerns, Director of Environment and Human Rights Advisory (HRA)Damien Short, Director of the Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of LondonRosalind Reeves, Ateneo School of GovernmentRight Livelihood Award Laureates, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize:Tony deBrum, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of the Marshall IslandsRaymond de Chavez, Public Information and Awareness Manager for TebtebbaAnwar Fazal, Director of the Right Livelihood CollegeMartin Green, Sciential Professor at the Australian Centre for Advanced PhotovoltaicsHans Herren, CEO of the Millennium InstituteWes Jackson, President of The Land InstituteIda Kuklina, The Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of RussiaAlison Linnecar, Convenor of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Working GroupRaul Montenegro, President of the Environment Defense Foundation (FUNAM)Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, Founder of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG)Gino Strada, Executive Director of EmergencyDavid Suzuki, Scientist, Broadcaster and Founder of the David Suzuki FoundationShrikrishna Upadhyay, Founder of Support Activities for Poor Producers of Nepal (SAPPERS)Jose Ramon Villarin, President, Ateneo de Manila UniversityPaul Walker, Director of Environmental Security and Sustainability at Green Cross InternationalChico Whitaker, Representative of the Brazilian Justice and Peace Commission to the World Social ForumAngie Zelter, Founder of Trident PloughsharesNGOs:Homero Aridjis, President of the Group of 100 and Emeritus PEN InternationalPeter Bennett, Executive Director of Rainforest ConcernPeter Bosshard, Executive Director of International RiversSimon Counsell, Executive Director of the Rainforest Foundation UKSarah DuPoint, President and Founder of Amazon Aid FoundationJodie Evans, CodePinkJulia Husermann, Founder and President of Rights and HumanityJohn Hemming, Chairman of Hemming GroupMaritta Koch-weser, Founder and President of Earth3000David Krieger, President of the Nuclear Age Peace FoundationSir Ghillean Prance, Scientific Director of the Eden ProjectJohn Sauven, Director of Greenpeace UKMark Magaa, President of GreenLatinosBrent Millikan, Amazon Program Director of International RiversIrene Vilar, Founder of Americas for ConservationMarco Arana Zegarra, Founder of the Grupo de Formacin e intervencin para el Desarrollo Sostenible (GRUFIDES)Donald Lehr, President of the Nolan/Lehr GroupEntertainment world:Patrick StewartStephen FryAnnie LennoxLivia Firth, film producer and Creative Director of Eco-AgeJaka Bizilj, Founder of Cinema for PeaceSarah Gavron, filmmakerEva Aridjis, filmmakerArchitects:David ChipperfieldArt world:Thaddaeus Ropac (Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac)Julia Peyton-Jones (Serpentine Gallery)Nicholas Logsdail (Lisson Gallery)Marina Abramovi'Jules de BalincourtFrancesco ClementeTracey EminGhazelAntony GormleyRichard LongRobert LongoJason MartinYoko OnoElizabeth PeytonRETNARaqib ShawFrancesco VezzosiBill ViolaNot VitalUN:Amir Dossal, Executive Director of UN Office for PartnershipsAnd many others. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. 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