IT Effects everyone
North America Decreasing snowpack in the western mountains; 5-20 percent increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture in some regions; increased frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves in cities that currently experience them.
Latin America Gradual replacement of tropical forest by savannah in eastern Amazonia; risk of significant biodiversity loss through extinction in many tropical areas; significant changes in water availability for human consumption, agriculture and energy generation. Asia Freshwater availability projected to decrease in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia by the 2050s; coastal areas will be at risk due to increased flooding; death rate from disease associated with floods and droughts expected to rise in some regions. |
Europe Increased risk of inland flash floods; more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion from storms and sea level rise; glacial retreat in mountainous areas; reduced snow cover and winter tourism; extensive species losses; reductions of crop productivity in southern Europe.
Africa By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress; yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 percent in some regions by 2020; agricultural production, including access to food, may be severely compromised. |
The Rising Sea Level
As the earth gets warmer, sea levels naturally rise because warmer water takes up more room than colder water. Melting glaciers also greatly add to this problem, by adding more fresh water into the ocean. Rising sea levels may seem like a minor problem in the lives of many. However, rising sea levels threaten low-lying areas such as islands or coastal regions, erode shorelines, and destroy ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands that act as buffers against storms.
Sea levels have risen between .1 and .2 meters within the past 100 years. It's estimated that sea levels could continue to rise between .1 and 1 meter during the next 100 years. |