Climate change is one of the most serious challenges confronted by human-beings. However, the national emissions reduction commitments within the international negotiations are far from sufficient, if we are to avoid serious climate change. The longer that negotiations continue, the further the gap between commitments and results widens. If this trend continues, there is more than a 65% likelihood that average temperatures will have risen by 4°C in 2050. Timely action is essential to deal with the challenge of climate change. We should have ‘two strings to our bow’.