Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the future of both the human race and the environment. It is brought about by the progressive heating of the atmosphere through heat trapping greenhouse gases creating an atmospheric blanket around the earth. As temperatures gradually increase we can expect an unpredictable series of worsening shocks and disasters.
Like the biblical plagues that befell Pharaoh, scientists predict that climate change will result in:
More frequent and more intense storms, droughts and floods.
Increased forest and bush fires.
New varieties and greater abundance of pests.
Changing patterns of human diseases and the spread of diseases such as
malaria and the bubonic plague.
Loss of coastal lands and creation of hundreds of millions of
environmental refugees.
Severe disturbances to aquatic and terrestrial sources of human food.
Collapse of the global insurance industry and other exposed financial
institutions.
There are already signs that this warming has had an impact:*
The eight hottest years on record have all occurred since 1980.
1990 was the hottest year since records began.
1994-95: Worst floods in North Europe in 60-100 years.
Since 1987 there have been at least 15 'billion dollar' climate related
natural disasters, with
none before that date, and with insured losses of over $50 billion.
