Dubai: Days before world leaders descend on Copenhagen to forge a deal on climate change, UN's top climate scientist has urged politicians "to get on with it" and take a substantial step towards tackling global warming.

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is hopeful of a deal being worked out by the delegates at the UN Climate Change Conference.

Click here to listen excerpts of the interview

Dr Pachauri, who shared the podium with Al Gore to receive the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the IPCC, believes the much-hyped summit can be termed a success if the countries agree on emission cuts close to what European Union (EU) has committed. EU ministers have agreed in principle to cut greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Dr Pachauri spoke to Gulf News over the telephone from Copenhagen. The excerpts:

Gulf News: A week into the Copenhagen Summit, are you optimistic about a deal? What will make you term it a success?

Dr Rajendra Pachauri: I remain optimistic particularly since there are about 115 world leaders who are coming. It clearly means that they all are eager and willing to bring about compromises by which we can get an agreement. Also, I think there is clearly a recognition among all the delegations and leaders that we need to take action.

What I would call a good agreement would be one, that clearly lays down targets for emission cuts, close to what EU has committed; commitment for financing; and some means for transfer of technology.

All these negotiations really start coming together towards the end. Which is not a satisfactory way of handling things but inevitably that is what happens.

What would be your message to the leaders of US, India and China?

Let's get on with it. Copenhagen of course is not going to be the end of the world but I believe we need to take a substantial step over here...

In the IPCC report we clearly mentioned that to stabilise Earth's temperature to increase no more than 2 degrees Celsius we will have to ensure that global emmisions are peaked no later than 2015, Which gives us very little time.

India has announced target of reducing carbon intensity by 20 per cent to 25 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. Is India on the right track?

It is a reasonable offer. This should induce other countries to do what's expected of them. I think it's a pretty good start.

EU's plans to give 7.3 billion euros to poor nations. Your comments.

That's really the first step. I believe you need a concerted action on the part of all the developed countries.

What do you have to tell people who feel climate change is a myth?

For some of them it doesn't suit them to believe in climate change. Because they are deriving enormous benefits, they are making huge profits from continuing their business as usual and they would feel threatened if the world started to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Let us not minimise the power of money in some of these things and the influence it might have on creating disinformation.

Some people say biased research had crept into the IPCC's recent report on the science of climate change. What do you have to say?

IPCC procedures are so robust and reliable that even if somebody wishes to carry out any deviation from normal requirements of an assessment they will not get away with it. And incidentally the papers that were referred to in these e-mails are all included in the fourth assessment report.

Maldives Cabinet met underwater. Nepal ministers met near Everest. Are these just stunts and are such stunts needed?

There is a lot of ignorance all over the world. There are a lots of people who don't even know where Maldives islands are. And particularly in countries where decisions are going to be of great consequence for the whole world. At least it draws attention to them and the nature of the problem. I don't see these acts as stunts but effective way of communicating the reality of the situation.

Is there one thing all of us can do to offset global warming?

Sir Paul McCartney and I have proposed at least one meat-less day a week. Meat cycle is extremely intensive in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. It is a healthier option.