Politics & Government

Are Humans Responsible for Climate Change?

A new report issued by the United Nations says we are. What do you think?

By Associate Regional Editor Sherri Lonon

As the oceans rise and temperatures across the globe increase, scientists are pointing fingers right back at themselves and all of humanity for being partially to blame.

In a report released Friday by the U.N. International Panel on Climate Change, scientists say they are 95 percent confident that people are to blame for at least “half of the observed increase in global average surface temperatures since the 1950s,” according to CNN.

The report marks an increase in the level of confidence from scientists that humans are indeed partially responsible for climate change, CNN reported. The confidence level back in 2007 was 90 percent. In 2001, scientists were only 66 percent confident that people were partially to blame.

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"There's now no denying that climate change is real and its impacts are occurring faster and are worse than we could have predicted even six years ago," Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, told USA Today.

The report also concludes that even if the emissions of greenhouse gases were stopped entirely, it would take centuries to undo the damage.

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Given this, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon told the New York Times the time to act is now.

What role do you think humans play in climate change? Do you do anything to reduce your carbon footprint? Share your thoughts by commenting below.


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