"Climate Change Fight Affordable, Cut Emissions To Zero By 2100: U.N."

"Governments can keep climate change in check at manageable costs but will have to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2100 to limit risks of irreversible damage, a U.N. report said on Sunday.

The 40-page synthesis, summing up 5,000 pages of work by 800 scientists already published since September 2013, said global warming was now causing more heat extremes, downpours, acidifying the oceans and pushing up sea levels.

“Science has spoken. There is no ambiguity in the message. Leaders must act, time is not on our side,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in presenting the report in Copenhagen that is meant to guide global climate policy-making.

With fast action, climate change could be kept in check at manageable costs, he said, referring to a U.N. goal of limiting average temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. Temperatures are already up 0.85 C (1.4F)."

Alister Doyle reports for Reuters November 3, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Warning in Climate Change Report Is Loudest Yet By Scientists" (McClatchy Tribune)

"U.N. Panel Issues Its Starkest Warning Yet on Global Warming" (New York Times)

"Effects of Climate Change ‘Irreversible,’ U.N. Panel Warns in Report" (Washington Post)

"U.N.: End Greenhouse Emissions By 2100 Or Risk 'Irreversible' Damage" (NPR)

"U.N. Panel Issues Its Starkest Warning Yet on Global Warming" (NPR)

"U.N. Report Warns Of 'Irreversible' Damage To Earth's Climate" (NPR)

"U.N. Panel Issues Climate Warning" (NPR)

"IPCC: Rapid Carbon Emission Cuts Vital To Stop Severe Impact of Climate Change" (Guardian)

"UN Climate Report Offers Stark Warnings, Hope" (AP)

"Fossil Fuel Caps Urged as Scientists Warn of Climate Woes" (Bloomberg)