BEIJING, Nov. 25 — Global warming could raise sea levels by 2 meters at worst by 2100, much faster than expected, experts said in a statement.

In the statement “Copenhagen Diagnosis” — a warning to next month’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the experts on Tuesday urged actions to keep down the rising greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 or 2020 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

“Climate change is accelerating beyond expectations,” the statement said, “accounting for ice-sheets and glaciers, global sea-level rise may exceed 1 meter by 2100, with a rise of up to 2 meters considered an upper limit.”

They said global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels were almost 40 percent higher in 2008 than in 1990.

“There have been no significant changes in the underlying warming trend,” they said.
They also warned in the 64-page report that “delay in action risks irreversible damage.”

The statement was jointly issued by 26 experts. Many of them were on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which in 2007 foresaw a sea level rise of 18-59 cm by 2100.

Copenhagen meeting will be held on Dec. 7-18, aiming to reach a new UN plan to succeed the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/25/content_12536033.htm