Energy saving measures need to be put in place urgently to prevent global warming exceeding four degrees by the end of the century, the Met Office has warned.

A report from the organisation, working on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), predicts that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise unchecked then there could be "major implications for the world".

While the report predicts an average global temperature increase of four degrees should carbon emissions not be significantly reduced, some areas would be hit far harder.

Melting snow and ice in the Arctic could see temperatures rise by 15.2 degrees as more of the sun's radiation is absorbed, while southern and western Africa are expected to see an increase of up to ten degrees.

Dr Richard Betts, head of climate impacts at the Met Office Hadley Centre, said: "If greenhouse gas emissions are not cut soon, we could see major climate changes within our own lifetimes."

Delegates from about 190 countries are currently meeting in Bangkok to discuss climate change, ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December 2009.