PARIS -- Global warming has made stronger hurricanes, including those in the Atlantic Ocean such as 2005's Katrina, an authoritative panel on climate change has concluded for the first time, participants in the deliberations said Thursday.

During marathon meetings in Paris, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change approved language that said an increase in hurricane and tropical cyclone strength since 1970 ``more likely than not'' can be attributed to man-made global warming, according to Leonard Fields, of Barbados, and Cedric Nelom, of Suriname.

In its last report in 2001, the same panel had said there was not enough evidence to make such a conclusion.

``It is very important'' that the language is so strong this time, said Fields, whose eastern Caribbean island is on the path of many hurricanes. ``Insurance companies watch the language too.''

The panel did note that the increase in stronger storms differs in various parts of the globe, but that the storms that strike the Americas are global warming-influenced, according to another participant.