Climate Change

• In order to halt global climate change, better building standards, increased fuel efficiency and greater development of wind, solar or geothermal energy, as well as incentives for the better management of farming and forestry need to be implemented (Agence France Presse, 29 April)

• From 1906 to 2005, global surface temperatures rose by 0.74 Celsius degrees (1.33 Fahrenheit) (Agence France Presse, 29 April)

• Global warming over the past half century has been nearly twice that of the century as a whole. 11 of the past 12 years rank among the dozen warmest years on record (Agence France Presse, 29 April)

• Sea levels rose globally by 1.8 millimetres (0.07 inches) per year from 1961 to 2003, a pace that accelerated to 3.1 mm (0.12 inches) per year from 1993 to 2003 (Agence France Presse, 29 April)

• By 2100, global average surface temperatures could rise by between 1.1 C degrees (1.98 Fahrenheit) and 6.4 C degrees (11.52 Fahrenheit), compared to 1980-99 levels. Within this range, the likeliest rise will be 1.8-4.0 C degrees. (Agence France Presse)

• Sea levels will rise by between 18 and 59 centimetres (7.2 and 23.2 inches), although this could be amplified by accelerating melting of ice sheets (Agence France Presse)

• Between 20-30 percent of plant and animal species are likely to be at an increased risk of extinction if increases in global average temperature exceed 1.5-2.5 Celsius degrees (Agence France Presse, 29 April)

• There is no consensus on the cost of global warming, but every tonne of CO2 emitted into the air costs from 10 dollars to 350 dollars, according to the estimates (Agence France Presse, 29 April)