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Unless we act quickly and resolutely the following effects, already occurring as a result of Global Warming, will worsen:
Sea Level Rise – The melting of glaciers and sea ice
and the expansion of the ocean due to rising temperatures has the
potential to raise sea levels by as much as three feet over the course
of this century. This translates into loss of habitat for humans and
animals alike and makes new areas susceptible to storm surges. In the
country of Bangladesh, 17 million people live within three feet of sea
level. Click here to see how places around the world, including the United States, could be affected.
Species Extinction – At current rates,
scientists estimate that 25% of the Earth’s species could be
extinct by the 2050. This is due to loss of habitat for animals like
penguins and polar bears in arctic regions and the bleaching (death) of
coral reefs because of changes in ocean chemistry. Scientists with the
World Wildlife Federation anticipate that the Great Barrier Reef could
lose 95% of its living coral by 2050.
Extreme Weather Events – While the effects
of global warming will vary from region to region (click here to see
what scientists are predicting for Iowa), weather conditions everywhere
are likely to become more volatile. This means more frequent and
intense droughts, floods, cyclones, heat waves, and severe weather. In
addition, the warming of the ocean will strengthen hurricanes. In the
United States and throughout the world, the cost of rebuilding in the
wake of these events will be expensive. Since 1950, the amount of
severe weather events has risen substantially as demonstrated by this
graph.
Increased Temperature – Over this
century, scientists believe average temperatures could rise by as much
as 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit between 1990 and 2100. Increased temperature
will have a number of effects. In addition to a rise in deaths related
to heat stress, the lack of freezing temperatures will cause mosquito
borne diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever, and West Nile Virus, to
skyrocket in regions previously unaffected by the diseases.
This is already being felt in places like Tanzania.
Atmospheric changes will also cause certain plants and insects hostile
to agriculture to thrive, further threatening food supplies.
Resource Scarcity – Changes in temperature
as well as increases in extreme weather events (droughts and floods)
and food parasites will limit crop production and greatly strain water
supplies. With more people competing for even less resources, the
likelihood of internal and external conflict increases astronomically.
United Nations scientists estimate that by 2050 more than 1 billion
people in Asia could face water shortages. This is because so many of
our water sources (40% worldwide) are fed by rapidly retreating
glaciers. Already, nations are experiencing conflicts due to limited
resources caused by climactic changes. Included on the list of
“resource conflicts” is the present situation in Darfur.
For more information, see the Darfur section of this article.
Put simply, Climate Change is a matter of life and death for many around the world.
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