Understanding human influence on climate change in China

China's climate has been warming since the 1950s, with surface air temperature increasing at a rate higher than the global average. Changes in climate have exerted substantial impacts on water resources, agriculture, ecosystems and human health. Attributing past changes to causes provides a scientific foundation for national and international climate policies. Here, we review recent progress in attributing the observed climate changes over past decades in China. Anthropogenic forcings, dominated by greenhouse gas emissions, are the main drivers for observed increases in mean and extreme temperatures. Evidence of the effect of anthropogenic forcings on precipitation is emerging. Human influence has increased the probability of extreme heat events, and has likely changed the occurrence probabilities for some heavy precipitation events. The way a specific attribution question is posed and the conditions under which the question is addressed present persistent challenges for appropriately communicating attribution results to non-specialists. Human influence on China's climate is clear. Anthropogenic forcing is the main driver of the observed warming in mean and extreme temperatures, and its effect on heavy precipitation is emerging.

Automated summary

China's climate has been warming since the 1950s, with human activities, primarily greenhouse gas emissions, driving the increases in mean and extreme temperatures. The impact of human influence on precipitation is also emerging.