FollowThe global warming is rising unabated since the 1950s, thanks to the human activity. A recent UN report has held humans responsible for the climatic changes witnessed on the Earth.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said it was more certain than ever that humans were the cause of global warming and predicted temperatures would rise another 0.3 to 4.8 degrees Celsius this century.
“Observations of changes in the climate system are based on multiple lines of independent evidence. Our assessment of the science finds that the atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, the global mean sea level has risen and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased,” Qin Dahe, co-chair of IPCC Working Group I, said during the presentation in Stockholm.
The IPCC’s most recent assessment, the fifth since its inception, has made it clear that there is clear evidence that global warming is taking place and that human activity, especially combustion of fossil fuels, is greatly responsible for it.
The IPCC also projected sea levels would rise between 26 and 82 centimetres by 2100, and warned of a higher risk for heatwaves, floods and droughts.
The 2013 UN report describes the interval from 1983-2012 as probably the warmest 30-year period in the Northern Hemisphere in the last 1,400 years.
According to the report, significant reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases, temperatures will climb by more than 1.5 C (2.7 F) above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. Temperatures could rise by upwards of 4 C (8 F) if emissions continued to increase, while warming will cause sea-levels to rise as much as 82 centimetres (32 inches) by 2100, the IPCC report stressed.
The report was released on Friday in Stockholm after being finalised by representatives of 195 countries and scientists following a week of negotiations and discussions.
What is IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by the United Nations and World Meteorological Organisation, is tasked with providing scientific guidance to governments across the world in developing policies to counter climate change. The IPCC is not a research organisation. Under the aegis of IPCC, scientists, researchers, think tanks, and not for profit organisations assess and process the work in the field of science relating to climate change.
