British Prime Minister David Cameron says there is growing evidence that climate change is causing catastrophic events such as the huge storm that killed thousands of people in the Philippines.
More than 3600 people are confirmed dead after Typhoon Haiyan - one of the biggest on record - swept through last weekend, with the toll expected to rise.
In a stark warning to sceptics within his own Conservative party on Friday Mr Cameron said even those who doubted the "very certain" message being given by scientists should accept it was right to take action as insurance against future climate shocks.
"I am not a scientist but it's always seemed to me that one of the strongest arguments about climate change is that even if you are 90 per cent certain, or 80 per cent certain, or 70 per cent certain - if I said to you that there was a 60 per cent chance your house might burn down, you would take out some insurance," he told reporters during a visit to Sri Lanka.
"We should think about climate change like that.
"Scientists are giving us a very certain message but even if you are less certain than the scientists, it makes sense to take action in terms of trying to prevent and to mitigate.
"I'll leave scientists to speak for themselves about the links between this and other events and climate change.
"The evidence seems to me to be growing."
Pressure to abandon green measures has been growing, with figures outside and inside Cameron's party increasingly vocal on an issue he has publicly championed.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said people should "accept that the climate has been changing for centuries", following the publication of a high-level international report that gave the strongest warning yet of the reality of climate change.
"What it is saying is that it is something we can adapt to over time, and we are very good as a race at adapting," he said.
The Philippines' lead negotiator at the UN climate summit said the disaster must act as a push for international action.
Naderev Sano said: "To anyone who continues to deny the reality that is climate change, I dare you to get off your ivory tower and away from the comfort of your armchair."
