16pc of species are facing extinction

One in six of the animals and plants on the planet could face extinction if nothing is done to reduce the rate of climate change, a study has found.

The new research suggests that biodiversity loss is accelerating with each Celsius degree rise in temperature.

If global warming continues unabated, raising the Earth's temperature by 4.3C compared with its pre-industrial level, 16pc of species could be at risk, it is claimed.

The research is based on an analysis of 131 different biodiversity studies.