Details of the report, due next week, have been widely leaked and show that the world has been warming much less than previously predicted and that the impact of carbon dioxide may be overrated.

It appears that the world has only warmed 0.12 degrees per decade in the past 60 years and that the relatively stable temperatures of the past decade have been achieved by the world's oceans absorbing heat.

Climate change zealots last year pointed to the record low ice coverage in the Arctic. This year 2.5 million square kilometres more was blanketed by ice and snow and Europe had one of its coldest winters on record.

Scientists seem a little baffled about how the Earth is adjusting to carbon dioxide levels and now believe that a moderate rise will increase rainfall in many areas making them more agriculturally productive.

There is no doubt that the world's climate is changing - it has been constantly changing since the dinosaurs roamed and it will continue to evolve.

It is also agreed that humans are having an impact but that carbon dioxide levels may not be the biggest concern.

Of greater concern is a population explosion that is having a far bigger impact on the environment, especially in Third World countries.

The population of Africa, for example, is expected to double from 1.2 billion to 2.4 billion people within 40 years. We will need some smart solutions if we expect to feed and house these sort of numbers.

Australia produces just over 1 per cent of the world's carbon emissions. We can do better but we are not global villains.

Technology and education will reduce that carbon footprint but we must be part of a global solution that includes big polluters like India, China and the US.

In the meantime, those people advocating that we are facing a "climate crisis" may need to tone down the rhetoric.