Key Facts

Global temperatures have risen by over 0.7C in the last 300 years - climate change is therefore already taking place. 0.5C of this warming occurred during the 20th century. Most of the warming was from 1910 to 1940 and from 1976 onwards

Four out of five of the warmest years ever recorded were in the 1990's

The 1990's was the warmest decade of the last millennium with 1998 being the warmest year globally since records began in 1861

1999 was the warmest year on record in the world.

January-June 2002 was the warmest start to a year in the northern hemisphere.

The total number of cold days (where the average temperature was under 0C) has fallen from between 15 and 20 per year prior to the twentieth century, to around 10 per year in recent years.

2005 saw the most hot days in 225 years of daily measurements - 26 days above 20C.

Sea levels are rising globally, arctic sea ice is thinning and rainfall is becoming heavier in some parts of the World. Average global sea levels have increased by between 0.1 and 0.2 metres over the last 100 years.

Snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere has declined since the late 1960's by around 10%.

Mountain glaciers in non polar regions have retreated significantly during the 20th century.

There is evidence of more precipitation in large parts of the World - an increase of 0.5-1% per decade in many mid and high level areas of the northern hemisphere.

In the same area of the World there has been a 2-4% increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall events.

In Asia and Africa there has been an increased frequency and intensity of droughts in the last few decades.