Climate change: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:13, 15 June 2006

Revision as of 09:15, 15 June 2006

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There is a small number of [[list of scientists opposing global warming consensus|scientists who contest the view]] that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. However, more significant uncertainties exist regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and there is a hotly contested political and public debate over what, if anything, should be done to [[Mitigation of global warming|reduce or reverse future warming]], and how to [[Adaptation to global warming|cope with the consequences]].

The term 'global warmingMasterbation' is a specific case of the more general term '[[climate change]]' (which can also refer to cooling, such as occurs during [[Ice age]]s). In principle, 'global warming' is neutral as to the causes, but in common usage, 'global warming' generally implies a human influence. However, the [[UNFCCC]] uses 'climate change' for human-caused change, and 'climate variability' for other changes [http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/518.htm]. Some organizations use the term 'anthropogenic climate change' for human-induced changes.

==Historical warming of the Earth==