Continuous emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in the climate system, R K Pachauri, the head of the UN body of climate change has said and called for effective risk management to mitigate global warming.

Speaking at a knowledge sharing session on "Sustainable Development in the Global Arena" organised in Qatar by Doha Bank, Pachauri explained the future risks of climate change in areas such as human security, livelihoods and human health, and the implications on sustainable development.

"Effective risk management and adaptation are tailored to local and regional needs and circumstances. Governing a transition towards an effective climate response and sustainable development pathway is a challenge involving rethinking our relation to nature," he was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.

Providing insight on extreme events during and by the end of 21st century, Pachauri said, "it is very likely that the length, frequency, and intensity of warm spells or heat waves will increase over most land areas".

He also threw light on sustainable development and human influence on climate, which include changes such as the rise in sea levels and ocean temperature, diminishing amount of snow and ice, and rising concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Highlighting the trends in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), total anthropogenic GHG emissions were highest in human history from 2000 to 2010, Pachauri noted that there were strategies that can help manage disaster risk today and also help improve people's livelihood and well-being.

He said economic and population growth continue to be the most important drivers in CO2 emissions globally and some of the key challenges in sustainable development include climate change, energy security and increase in natural and man-made disasters.