U.N. urges ending use of fossil fuels by the year 2100

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The U.N.'s panel on climate science has released their latest report and recommends countries stop using fossil fuels by the year 2100.

This is the fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and the last to be released. It focuses on the likely future of climate change and what can be done about it.

"Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history," the report says. "Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems."

It points out that the climate will change beyond the year 2100 no matter what, but the authors believe there can be significant improvements in living conditions if fossil fuels are no longer used by that year. It claims man-made conditions have "led to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that are unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years."

"Adaptation and mitigation are complementary strategies for reducing and managing the risks of climate change. Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development," the report says.