Stark warning on climate change
30/1/2006 BBC Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases may have more serious impacts than previously believed, a major scientific report has said. The report, published by the UK government, says there is only a small chance of greenhouse gas emissions being kept below “dangerous” levels. It fears the Greenland ice sheet is likely to melt, leading sea levels to rise by seven metres over 1,000 years. The poorest countries will be most vulnerable to these effects, it adds. The report, Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, collates evidence presented by scientists at a conference hosted by the UK Meteorological Office in February 2005. POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF 2C TEMPERATURE INCREASE Decreasing crop yields
Tripling of poor harvests in Europe and Russia
Large-scale displacement of people in north Africa owing to
desertification
Up to 2.8bn people at risk of water shortage
97% loss of coral reefs
Total loss of summer Arctic sea ice and polar bear extinction
Spread of malaria in Africa and north America