Luke Metzger
Executive Director, Environment Texas
Executive Director, Environment Texas
AUSTIN—The world’s scientists are more than 90% certain that human activity – primarily burning fossil fuels to power cars, power plants, and factories – is responsible for most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century, according to a consensus report released early this morning by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming.
The report finds that warming of the climate is “unequivocal” and warns that temperatures could further increase substantially if serious action is not taken to reduce emissions of the pollutants that cause global warming.
Cars and power plants are the largest sources of these emissions, though the U.S. could reduce its emissions immediately using on-the-shelf technologies to improve energy efficiency and shift to renewable energy sources.
“Sections of this report read like the Book of Revelations. But there’s still time to protect future generations if Congress puts strict limits on global warming pollution,” said Liz Wilfong, Federal Field Associate for Environment Texas.
Today’s report is the first volume of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report. It synthesizes the peer-reviewed research published prior to 2006 on the science underlying global warming. Additional volumes, examining global warming impacts and options for reducing future warming, are due out later this year. The full report includes input from more than 2,500 experts worldwide. The IPCC released its last assessment report in 2001.
Among the major findings of today’s report include the following:
Wilfong noted that the report is inherently conservative because it reflects the consensus of hundreds of parties, including industry groups and governments opposed to taking action to reduce global warming pollution. In addition, the report does not include any research published in 2006, though there have been major research developments on sea level rise and hurricane intensity, among many other areas.
The United Nations Environmental Program and the World Meteorological Organization established the IPCC in 1988.
“If lawmakers still needed a wake up call, this certainly is it. Now, it’s time to get to work to pass meaningful legislation that reduces pollution quickly enough and sufficiently enough to avoid the worst effects of global warming,” concluded Wilfong.