বৃহস্পতিবার, ৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

what is climate change

Climate Change is a complex subject, one that is evolving now, and one that will evolve for years to come. However we believes that taking prudent steps now to lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is the right thing to do, which is why we acted in 2001 to implement our Climate Change Action Plan.
Given the complexities involved in climate science, we look to the scientific community to provide consensus on the issue of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was established by the U.N. in 1988 and which brought scientists from around the world together on the subject of climate change, released its Fourth Assessment Report in 2007. The report stated that, "Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level."
According to the IPCC, observations also include the following: "Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many thousands of years." Further, the IPCC states: "The global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due primarily to fossil fuel use and land use change, while those of methane and nitrous oxide are primarily due to agriculture. Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations."
Uncertainties still exist around climate change, such as predictions of future warming and impacts of that warming, pace of technology advancement and forecasts of economic and population growth.
Effect of climate change