Climate Change Overview
On 17th November 2007 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released "Climate Change 2007” the most comprehensive international study into climate change to date. They concluded "most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (>90% probability) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (produced by humans) greenhouse gas concentrations".
The report by the IPCC estimates that with the absence of intervention global temperatures will most likely increase by between 1.1°C and 6.4°C by the end of the century.
While at first glance temperature increases of this level may not appear significant, the IPCC state:
“Climate change is likely to lead to some irreversible impacts. There is medium confidence that approximately 20 to 30% of species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average warming exceed 1.5 to 2.5°C (relative to 1980-1999). As global average temperature increase exceeds about 3.5°C, model projections suggest significant extinctions (40 to 70% of species assessed) around the globe.”
The effects of climate change are already evident all around the world. In recent times, the increase in severity of weather events such as floods, droughts and hurricanes has been dramatic.
The Basic Science....
On 17th November 2007 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released "Climate Change 2007” the most comprehensive international study into climate change to date. They concluded "most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (>90% probability) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (produced by humans) greenhouse gas concentrations".
The report by the IPCC estimates that with the absence of intervention global temperatures will most likely increase by between 1.1°C and 6.4°C by the end of the century.
While at first glance temperature increases of this level may not appear significant, the IPCC state:
“Climate change is likely to lead to some irreversible impacts. There is medium confidence that approximately 20 to 30% of species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average warming exceed 1.5 to 2.5°C (relative to 1980-1999). As global average temperature increase exceeds about 3.5°C, model projections suggest significant extinctions (40 to 70% of species assessed) around the globe.”
The effects of climate change are already evident all around the world. In recent times, the increase in severity of weather events such as floods, droughts and hurricanes has been dramatic.
The Basic Science....
