Humans are main cause of climate change: Report

By Ovunc Kutlu

NEW YORK

Humans are the main cause of climate change and rise in global temperatures since the beginning of this century, according to a recent report prepared by 13 federal agencies in the U.S.

The report said average surface air temperature has increased around 1 Celsius over the last 115 years, between 1901-2016, and this period was recorded as the warmest in modern history.

The last three years have also been recorded as the warmest years in history, the report said, warning that these trends are expected to continue over time.

"This assessment concludes, based on extensive evidence, that it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century," the report said.

"For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence," it added.

The report named "Climate Science Special Report" was prepared by representatives from the U.S.' Departments of Defense, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, NASA, in addition to the U.S.' Environmental Protection Agency.

The findings of the governmental agencies and their assessments, however, were in contrast with the President Donald Trump administration's stance.

"The fact is this shouldn't be a debate about," the U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said during an interview regarding climate change. "Is the climate changing, is man having an effect on it?' Yeah, we are. The question should be just how much," he said.

Trump, on June 1, withdrew the U.S. from the historic Paris Climate Agreement that was signed by 195 countries to combat climate change and global warming.