UNITED NATIONS, Dhu-AlHijjah 23, 1436, Oct 7, 2015, SPA -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the election of Lee Hoesung as chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), his spokesperson said Wednesday. “He (Ban) looks forward to the IPCC’s new leadership at this critical moment when governments are preparing for the global climate change conference in Paris later this year, and extends his congratulations to Mr. Lee,” Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement. The U.N. chief also reaffirms his support for the IPCC in supplying decision-makers and the public with the world’s most authoritative scientific understanding of climate change, the statement said. According to the spokesperson, the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report, which was released last November, provides the most comprehensive assessment of climate change ever undertaken. “It adds to the overwhelming evidence that human activity is disrupting the climate, and warns that we risk severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts, should present emission trends continue. The IPCC’s report also shows us that we have a variety of options to limit climate change and help build a safer, more sustainable world now and into the future,” the statement said. --SPA 18:29 LOCAL TIME 15:29 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w