IPCC Report on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently issued new reports on

global climate change, with three very important outcomes. First, global average surface temperatures have increased by 0.6°C over the last 100 years, 0.15 degrees more than previously reported. The difference is largely due to relatively higher temperatures for the years 1994 to 2000 and improved data processing methods. Second, the global average surface temperature is expected to rise between 1.4 and 5.8°C over the period of 1990 to 2100. This increase is greater and wider ranging than previous projections because of lower projected sulfur dioxide emissions. The third outcome is a much stronger statement linking global warming to human activity over the last 50 years. Evidence supporting this conclusion is based on a number of improvements in modeling and data processing. The IPCC was established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988.