FACTBOX-Global warming: impacts of temperature rises
02 Feb 2007 22:11:37 GMT Source: Reuters
Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the most complete overview of climate change. Below are estimates of the effects of temperature rises relative to pre-industrial levels as detailed by Nicholas Stern, chief British government economist, published in October. Temp. rise/Impacts 1 DEGREE * Shrinking glaciers threaten water for 50 million people * Modest increases in cereal yields in temperate regions * At least 300,000 people each year die from malaria, malnutrition and other climate-related diseases * Reduction in winter mortality in higher latitudes * 80 percent bleaching of coral reefs, e.g. Great Barrier Reef 2 DEGREES * 5-10 percent decline in crop yield in tropical Africa * 40-60 million more people exposed to malaria in Africa * Up to 10 million more people affected by coastal flooding * 15-40 percent of species face extinction (one estimate) * High risk of extinction of Arctic species, e.g. polar bear * Potential for Greenland ice sheet to start to melt irreversibly, committing world to 7 metre sea level rise 3 DEGREES * In Southern Europe, serious droughts once every 10 years * 1-4 billion more people suffer water shortages * Some 150-550 additional millions at risk of hunger * 1-3 million more people die from malnutrition * Onset of Amazon forest collapse (some models only) * Rising risk of collapse of West Antarctic Ice Sheet * Rising risk of collapse of Atlantic Conveyor of warm water * Rising risk of abrupt changes to the monsoon 4 DEGREES * Agricultural yields decline by 15-35 percent in Africa * Up to 80 million more people exposed to malaria in Africa * Loss of around half Arctic tundra 5 DEGREES * Possible disappearance of large glaciers in Himalayas, affecting one-quarter of China's population, many in India * Continued increase in ocean acidity seriously disrupting marine ecosystems and possibly fish stocks * Sea level rise threatens small islands, coastal areas such as Florida and major cities such as New York, London, and Tokyo
