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A brief look at main findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change report:
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THE CAUSE: Global warming is "very likely" caused by man — the strongest
conclusion to date. Concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the
planet's atmosphere "have increased markedly as a result of human activities
since 1750," mainly from the use of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal, and
because of agriculture.
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THE OUTLOOK: Now that the world has begun to warm, hotter temperatures and rises
in sea level "would continue for centuries" no matter how much humans control
their pollution. It is "very likely" that heat waves, hot weather, and heavy
rainfalls "will continue to become more frequent." Toward the end of this
century, sea ice in the Arctic may disappear "almost entirely" in summer.
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TEMPERATURE CHANGE: Predicted ...