"BERLIN -- The cost of keeping global warming in check is "relatively modest," but only if the world acts quickly to reverse the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, the head of the U.N.'s expert panel on climate change said Sunday.

Such gases, mainly CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels, rose on average by 2.2 percent a year in 2000-2010, driven by the use of coal in the power sector, officials said as they launched the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's report on measures to fight global warming.

Without additional measures to contain emissions, global temperatures will rise about 3 degrees to 4 degrees Celsius (5 degrees to 7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100 compared to current levels, the panel said."

Karl Ritter reports for the Associated Press April 13, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Climate Efforts Falling Short, U.N. Panel Says" (New York Times) [3]

"How Much Will Shift To Green Energy Slow Growth? Not Much, Says UN." (Reuters) [4]

"Climate Change Adjustments Must Be Fast And Major, U.N. Panel Says" (NPR) [5]

"Leaked Climate Change Report: Scientific Body Warns of 'Devastating Rise of 4-5C If We Carry on as We Are' " (Independent) [6]

"IPCC: CO2 Emissions Soar, Yet Paths to Avoid Calamity Open" (ENS) [7]

"IPCC Report: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accelerated in Past Decade" (Toronto Star) [8]

"UN Report Says Climate Efforts Not Sufficient" (Aljazeera) [9]

"Factbox: U.N. Issues Guide To Slow Climate Change" (Reuters) [10]

"Govts Okay Text Of UN Climate Report" (AFP) [11]

"Massive Emission Cuts 'Necessary'" (UK Press Association) [12]

"Renewables, Nuclear Must Triple to Save Climate, UN Says" (Bloomberg) [13]

"What Is Climate Change Mitigation?" (BBC News) [14]