SOUTH KOREA — A report from the U.N. scientific panel on climate changes urged governments around the world to take immediate action to avoid disastrous levels of temperature rise.

The authors of the report found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, the temperature of Earth's atmosphere would increase about 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040, according to The New York Times.

Previously, scientists believed the damage would occur if average temperatures were to rise above 2 degrees Celsius.

However, the reports warns the increase of just 1.5 degree Celsius would flood coastlines as well as intensify droughts around the planet.

In order to prevent 1.5 degrees of warming, pollution caused by greenhouse gases would have to be slashed by 45 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.

By 2050, use of different sources of renewable energy such as wind and solar power would have to increase to 67 percent while use of coal would have to decrease by nearly 40 percent.

Drew Shindell, author of the report, said "there is no way to mitigate climate change without getting rid of coal."

The report warned of irreversible damage such as coral reefs dying off if we fail to take action to prevent this catastrophe.