Warming lull haunts authors of key climate report

[September 19, 2013]  STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Scientists working on a landmark U.N. report on climate change are struggling to explain why global warming appears to have slowed down in the past 15 years even as greenhouse gas emissions keep rising.

Leaked documents obtained by AP show there are deep concerns among governments over how to address the issue ahead of next week's meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Climate skeptics have used the lull in attempts to cast doubt on the scientific consensus that human activities are warming the planet.

The report is expected to affirm the human link with greater certainty than ever, but the panel is under pressure to also address the recent lower rate of warming, which scientists say is due to heat going into the ocean and natural climate fluctuations.

[Associated Press; By KARL RITTER]

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