PART ONE / THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

he IPCC's Working Group 1 has produced a new comprehensive reassessment of the science of climate change. This builds on past reports and adds significant detail, especially about the relationship between global warming and the potential cooling influence of other atmospheric pollutants, known as aerosols. This pattern adds to the likelihood that the warming is, at least partly, a result of human activities and, says the IPCC, 'is unlikely to be entirely natural in origin' and that 'the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate'. A summary of each of the IPCC's main scientific conclusions is presented.

CONCLUSION ONE: Greenhouse gas concentrations are still increasing

CONCLUSION TWO: Climate has changed over the past century

CONCLUSION THREE: The changes point towards a human influence on climate

CONCLUSION FOUR: Further climate changes can be expected in future


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