The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess information on climate change and its impact.  Its Third Assessment Report predicts global temperature rises by the end of the century of between 1.4C and 5.8C. Although the issue of the changing climate is very complex and some changes are uncertain, temperature rises are expected to affect countries throughout the World and have a knock on effect with precipitation and sea level rises.

Scientists have argued about whether temperature rises are due to human activities or due to natural changes in our environment. The IPCC announced tat ‘most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is likely to be attributable to human activities'.

This was a more forceful statement when the Second Assessment Report stated that there was a 'discernible human influence on the climate' which was the first time they had concluded such a link. Many experts believe the faster the climate changes, the greater the risk will be.

Key points - projections for climate change globally:

• By the second half of the 21st century, wintertime precipitation in the northern mid to high latitudes and Antarctica will rise
• By the same time, Australasia, Central America and Southern Africa is likely to see decreases in winter precipitation
• In the tropics, it's thought some land areas will see more rainfall and others will see less
• It is thought the West Antarctic ice sheet is unlikely to collapse this century. If it does fall apart, sea level rises would be enormous
• Global average temperatures are predicted to rise by between 1.4C and 5.8C by 2100
• Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise
• More hot days over land areas and fewer cold days and frost
• More intense precipitation events