The Scientific Community Positions on Climate Change and Global Warming *

Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth's climate. The scientific community agrees that catastrophic and possibly irreversible environmental change will occur if average global temperatures rise an additional 2 deg. C. The emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, among which carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the main contributor, has amplified the natural greenhouse effect and led to global warming. The EFG recognizes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other organizations, and subscribes to the major findings that climate change is happening, is predominantly caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO₂, and poses a significant threat to human civilization. It is clear that major efforts are necessary to quickly and strongly reduce CO₂ emissions. Climate change is apt to affect everyone and everything: food, water, air quality, biodiversity, forests, public health, social order, and world peace.