Preparing for global and regional effects of climate change

Abstract

Global climate change due to emissions of greenhouse gases is projected to occur over the next century. The magnitude and rates of warming will be greater than previously experienced throughout human history. Projected consequences of climate change include a rising sea level, flooding of coastal areas, changes in rainfall and temperature distributions, shifts in human settlement patterns, changes in agricultural productivity and distribution of crops, and changes in the incidence of diseases. Mitigation measures can and should be undertaken immediately, and must involve cooperation between developed and developing nations. Global climate change due to emissions of greenhouse gases is projected to occur over the next century. The magnitude and rates of warming will be greater than previously experienced throughout human history. Projected consequences of climate change include a rising sea level, flooding of coastal areas, changes in rainfall and temperature distributions, shifts in human settlement patterns, changes in agricultural productivity and distribution of crops, and changes in the incidence of diseases. Mitigation measures can and should be undertaken immediately, and must involve cooperation between developed and developing nations