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10 facts on global warming

A recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report (Summary for Policy Makers, 2007) has stated without any reservation: "Warming of the climate is unequivocal". This, as well as other IPCC reports give us several global warming facts:

1. It's more than 90% sure; humans cause global warming

2. Eleven of last 12 years were the hottest ever recorded.

3. We are dumping about 1000 tons of CO₂per second into the atmosphere

Current rates of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere are unprecedented. Carbon dioxide emissions are mostly from burning fossil fuels.

4. Current greenhouse gas levels are far higher than for the previous 650,000 years.

The current atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are 35% greater than pre-industrial levels. Methane concentrations have increased by 250%. These dramatic increases in greenhouse gases are human-caused.

5. Global warming produces severe weather and rising seas

From 3,000 years ago to the start of the 19th century, the global sea level was almost constant, rising at 0.1 to 0.2 mm/year. Since 1900, however, the sea level has risen at a rate of 1 to 2mm/year. According to the IPCC, the rate between 1993 and 2003 was about 3.1mm/year, and the total sea level rise for the 20th century was about 0.17 m (6.7 inches). Other changes associated with warming include increased incidences of drought, flooding, heat waves, and intense cyclones.

6. Global warming effects are predicted to get much worse

By 2100, global temperatures will increase another 2 to 11 °F. Increases are predicted in heat waves, drought, intense cyclones, and loss of coastal and low areas.

7. Global warming will affect millions of people by 2100

Loss of habitable land is predicted to result from flooding and droughts. Increases are predicted in heat-caused deaths, famines, drinking water scarcity, disease, and forest fires.

8. 25% of the world's species could be lost from global warming effects

More than 1 million plant and animal species will vanish if global temperatures continue to rise as predicted. For example coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to small changes in water temperature, suffered the worst die-off in response to stress—ever recorded in 1998, with some areas seeing bleach rates of 70 percent. Experts expect these sorts of events to increase in frequency and intensity in the next 50 years as sea temperatures rise.

9. The Arctic is feeling the effects the most.

Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average, according to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004.

10. It's too late to stop global warming, but we can limit it

Models show that limiting greenhouse gas emissions can prevent the most extreme scenarios for global warming. Earlier we start changing, more opportunities we have to stabilize our climate.