Page 81 - The World About Us

Hurricane Irma
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4. More extreme weather events.
With more energy in the atmosphere and the oceans there will be more violent storms, including hurricanes and cyclones.
Changing weather pa erns will bring flooding to some areas but drought to others. Higher ocean temperatures, and to greater
depths, have been blamed for the strength of 2017's Hurricane Harvey, which dumped over 70 trillion litres of rainfall over Texas
in 36 hours, and for Hurricane Irma, which caused so much devasta on in the Caribbean a few days a er Harvey.

R The collapse of subsistence R Rebuilding costs a er storms will R Coastal erosion and damage to
farming a er prolonged drought add stresses to governmental reefs will increase during stronger
may put millions at risk of resources and raise insurance storms.
starva on. premiums. R Droughts may push natural ecosystems
R Destruc on of coastal communi es during R Reduced agricultural produc on during beyond their ability to recover.
tropical storms will devastate people's lives. droughts will raise global food prices.

5. Changes to agriculture and farming patterns.
At present most crops are grown in the climate zones where the original wild plant evolved. For example, oats and rye are
grown in colder northern Europe, while millet and sorghum are grown in sub-Saharan Africa. Warming climates and changing
rainfall pa erns may force farms to change the crops they grow.
R Changing staple crops may force R Loss of produc on in some areas R The need to find more land for
a change in tradi onal, local cuisines could mean bankruptcy for farmers, growing suitable crops or grazing of
and a change in tradi onal while higher produc on in other animals may impact nega vely on
agricultural lifestyles. areas may mean rising profits. already stressed natural ecosystems
and a loss of wilderness areas.
R The danger of famine may become R Reduced crop yields in some areas will lead
greater as popula ons con nue to expand. to higher prices, hi ng the poorest most.
6. Decline of biodiversity with species extinctions.
Already stressed ecosystems are put under even more pressure by rapid climate changes. Natural food webs and nutrient
cycles may break down. This could lead to the loss of keystone species and a decline in biodiversity.
R A world with fewer species may R Loss of biodiversity could affect R Declining ecosystem complexity
lose much of its awe and wonder. the many industries worldwide which will damage natural nutrient cycles
R Poorer communi es tend to rely rely on plant and animal bi-products. and make ecosystems even less
most on healthy ecosystems. These R Loss of species may reduce the future resilient to change.
socie es are likely to suffer the most. poten al of harnessing biomime cs - design R Possible loss of iconic species in the wild
based on copying nature. such as polar bears, gers and rhino.
7. Increasing conflict.

As the impacts of climate change begin to affect greater areas of the Earth, the poten al for conflict will grow. Reduced
river flows could see conflict between states which share transna onal rivers. Increased flows of environmental refugees could
see more conflict between those fleeing environmental disasters and na ons, or groups of na ons such as the EU, which seek
to 'protect' their borders.
R The global poor are most likely to R Conflict between countries will R Refugees forced to flee their
suffer the first and the most from impact on economic ac vity. Taxes homes may create over-popula on
climate change, despite having had spent on protec ng borders or hot spots, where their livestock may
very li le to do with the carbon securing scarce food supplies cannot over-graze the landscape adding to
emissions which have caused it. be spent in other areas, such as schools. the environmental degrada on.

8. Innovation and creativity.
The posi ve side to global warming is that if human ac vity has caused the problem then human ac ons can also go a long
way to solving it. Crises can spur social, poli cal, economic and technological innova ons in socie es struggling to cope.
R The threat of conflict may force R While costs and prices may rise, R The threat of irreversible climate
governments to work more closely this could inspire new inven ons and change could force governments
together to share resources rather technologies. This, in turn, could and industry to think long-term
than to compete for control. reduce costs while crea ng millions of about the health of natural
new jobs in climate change and the expanding ecosystems. A rapid reduc on in CO₂
R New inven ons and new ways of running
sustainable energy industries. emissions could see change slowly allowing
socie es could drama cally improves lives.
natural ecosystems the me to adapt.

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Climate change has consequences.