Climate Change: International Impacts
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global climate change impacts will include:
- Global warming of 1.8 to 4.0°C by 2100 (average annual best estimate);*
- Rising sea levels, decreased snowpacks and glacial melting;
- Increased heat waves and drought occurrences, especially in already “dry” areas;
- Increased heavy precipitation events, tropical storm intensities and flooding;
- Increased risk of extinction for approximately 20-30 per cent of plant and animal species; and
- Decreased global food production if local average annual warming exceeds the 1-3°C range.
The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). It was established to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The main activity of the IPCC is to provide reports on the state of knowledge on climate change, its impacts and appropriate actions.
The most recent major report is Climate Change 2007, referred to as the Fourth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability is one of four sections of the report. It provides a detailed synthesis of current scientific knowledge about climate change impacts, related vulnerabilities, and actions to respond and prepare for these impacts.
*Higher values reflect the impact of higher emissions. However, over the coming two decades, we are already committed to a 0.2°C per decade warming regardless of emissions.
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