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Facts about climate change
Climate change is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. Its impacts include a rise in sea levels, melting of polar caps, intense storms, loss of plant and animal species, heat-waves and floods. On the next few pages we have gathered additional information about the impact of climate change. You will also discover which human activities are influencing our climate, and how, and what the political response to this is.
"Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures over the last decades is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.". This is the core statement of the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and reflects a worldwide scientific consensus.
- Over the next 20 years, we can expect global warming of 0.2°C per decade. Even if the levels of greenhouse gases could have been maintained at the same concentrations as in 2000, the prognosis was for a further warming of 0.1°C per decade.
- Depending on the emissions scenario, a rise in temperatures between 1.1°C (low rise in emissions) up to 6.4°C (high rise in emissions) is expected by the end of the 21st century.
- Various extreme climate events (heat waves, extreme precipitation) will increase in frequency and intensity as they did during the 20th century.
In the face of these scenarios, Nicholas Stern, Chief Economist of the World Bank and advisor to the British government, wrote in his report in 2006 about the economic impact of climate change:
- The costs involved in stabilising the climate are substantial, but feasible. Delays would be dangerous and far more expensive.
- Climate change could have a serious impact on growth and development.
Source:
IPCC (2007): Fourth Assessment Report.
Stern, N (2006): Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change.
