 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a group of more than 200 scientists, devoted to investigating the causes, impacts of, and the solutions to climate change.
In 2001 the IPCC reported on the evidence of climate change, predicted climate change, and the likely consequences. They concluded that the earth’s climate changed during the 20th Century and that there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.
The IPCC found that:
- The global average surface temperature increased during the 20th Century by about 0.6˚C.
- Snow cover and ice extent decreased.
- From the late 1960s snow cover decreased by 10%.
- There was a widespread retreat of mountain glaciers in non-polar regions during the 20th Century.
- The global average sea level rose between 0.1 and 0.2 metres during the 20th Century.
- Fossil fuel burning is responsible for 75% of man made carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
- The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31% since 1750.
To find out more about the IPCC go to www.ipcc.ch
A new report, Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, published by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), asks how much climate change we can take and discusses how we can avoid levels which are dangerous.
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