14 - From Climate Change to Global Warming

Summary

Description: Higher, sustained average temperature can have important effects on the Earth, on humans and on other species. It affects the Earth’s productivity and diversity, but in different ways depending on the latitude. The impact on Russia and Canada will be different than in Southeast Asia and Africa. Sea levels will rise, affecting the cities that are at sea level. Higher temperatures will bring stronger storms. Humans should also not ignore what happens to other species. Deforestation has been a major problem, as has the warming of the Arctic and Antarctica. <break>Can green energy help? Can it be introduced and adopted fast enough? Neutrality in greenhouse gas additions is not expected until 2050. This is likely to be too late. While there is some progress in the use of new technologies, there are also worrisome developments. Some authors have been worrying about an Earth that risks becoming progressively more uninhabitable. There is a human tendency to dismiss bad scenarios that are uncertain. Unfortunately, in spite of much progress, bad outcomes are likely and catastrophic outcomes remain possible under current trends.