Governments around the world have been responding to a United Nations report that warns of the need for urgent action on climate change, to avoid irreversible damage to the planet.

The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change says global warming is very likely due to human activity, and predicts rising sea levels, and worsening storms and droughts.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard says the report is further proof that the country should be looking toward nuclear energy.

Mr Howard says wind energy and solar power are not the solution.

He says his government will not change its mind over the Kyoto protocol treaty, which it has refused to sign.

The EU describes it as the starkest warning yet, and Britain says climate change threatened world peace and prosperity.

The United States, which produces about quarter of the world's greenhouse gases, called the report valuable, but the White House has again expressed opposition to compulsory caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

And American Energy Secretary Sam Bodman rejected criticism of the United States' record.

The New Zealand government says it is targeting transport, electricity, forestry and agriculture to try to reduce greenhouse gas emission.