UN: climate change will have 'abrupt and irreversible' consequences

[babylonsister]

UN: climate change will have 'abrupt and irreversible' consequences
Polar Bears in Alaska, USA


(EPA PHOTO/GREENPEACE)
Polar bears in Alaska in September this year. UN experts claim that climate change is causing retreating glaciers as well as thinning Arctic summer sea ice


A panel of the United Nations' leading scientists is to warn that climate change could have "abrupt and irreversible" consequences, in a landmark document designed to force action from member states on the issue.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is seen as one of the most influential documents produced on the global warming issue to date, with the goal of forcing some of the world's biggest polluters to curb their emissions.

The Times has learnt that IPCC delegates – made up of some of the world's most eminent scientists – agreed on a text this morning after all-night negotiations in Spain, in which it was decided that tough wording would be needed.

As a result, the text of the draft report, which is due to be officially released tomorrow by Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, will caution that human activity could lead to "abrupt and irreversible" changes in our climate unless action is taken.

The report will summarise the main points from three huge documents issued this year covering the evidence for climate change; the present and possible future impacts of it; and the options for tackling the peril.

After the release of their report, scientists hope that UN member states will come up with a "roadmap" to cut carbon emissions at a summit in Bali next month.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2883094.ece