Several controversial statements on climatic change have been issued in recent years by various bodies and individuals, and some governments have expressed concern about the grave implications, for global food and population policies, of possible climatic changes. It was accordingly decided by the Seventh World Meteorological Congress (Geneva, April–May 1975) that WMO should take the lead in promoting studies of climatic changes, and should issue authoritative statements on the subject. The first such statement has been approved by the WMO Executive Committee which recently concluded its annual session in Geneva. This statement, and the technical report on which it is based, are now published below. The technical report was prepared by the Executive Committee Panel of Experts on Climatic Change.