UN Panel Report Links Higher GHG Emissions to Climate Change
The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently issued a report that links increases in greenhouse gases (GHG) and other human influences to increases in extreme global minimum and maximum temperatures, precipitation, and other climate change. According to the report, resulting extreme weather events will have greater impacts on sectors with closer links to climate, such as water, agriculture and food security, forestry, health, and tourism, and infrastructure.
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“Virtually Certain” that Higher Global Temperatures to Occur in 21st Century
In a summary of its report, the IPCC states that according to model projections, it is virtually certain that increases in the frequency and magnitude of warm daily temperature extremes and decreases in cold extremes will occur in the 21st century on a global scale. Additionally, it is very likely that the length, frequency and /or intensity of warm spells, or heat waves, will increase over most land areas.
“Medium Confidence” that Human Influences Contributing to Extreme Precipitation & Cyclones
The IPCC also states with medium confidence that human influences have contributed to intensification of extreme precipitation on a global scale. It states it is likely that there has been a human influence on increasing extreme coastal high water due to increase in mean sea level. Models project that heavy precipitation will occur more often, and the wind speed of tropical cyclones will increase while their number will likely remain constant or decrease.
IPCC press release is available here.
IPCC summary of its report for policymakers is available here.