The world’s most comprehensive report ever written on global warming is scheduled to be released today and Bermuda based scientist Dr. Nicholas Bates is one of about 2,500 contributing to the final document.

Dr. Bates is the Assistant Director of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences in St. George’s and has used research from the waters off Bermuda to help pen a chapter in this new report.

This will be the fourth assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the first time Dr. Bates has served as a contributor.

By most accounts this report will be the most damning yet.

“Oh yes, definitely yes,” said Dr. Bates.

“With so many scientists working on climate change and pooling of information it’s clear that the human imprint on climate is there and discernible and an issue we have to deal with.

“The science is saying that we have an important issue to deal with.”

The report, according to drafts and participants, says it is “very likely” — which means at least 90 percent certain — that climate change is caused by humans burning fossil fuels, and will result in a temperature increase of between 2.5 to 10.4 degrees by the year 2010.

Late Thursday, at an IPCC convention in Paris, it’s believed there are efforts underway to change the words “very likely to “virtually certain”, which translates to a 99 percent likelihood.

Friday’s release should come in the form of what’s called an executive summary.

It will snapshot for people around the world where climate change stands and where it’s predicted to go.

Then over the course of the year chapters and sections will be released with extensive detail on how each area of the environment is being affected.

Dr. Bates has contributed to Chapter Five which focuses on the ocean.

Since 1983 he has helped run the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series (BATS) which studies the role of the oceans in large-scale global change — especially as it relates to greenhouse gases like CO2.

It’s the longest running ocean research operation of its kind in the world.

That’s why Dr. Bates’ input is viewed as so valuable.

He said: “This will be a careful assessment of what we know and what we don’t know.

“In the previous reports there was not a lot of information on ocean changes.”

The IPCC will have contributions from scientists in 130 countries. And Governments around the world are expected to use the report as a foundation to create new regulations and legislation pertaining to environmental protection from global warming.