| Composite findings of about 2,000 scientists do not | | | | Over the past century (reference year 1900), global |
| augur well for future years due to the alarming rate | | | | temperatures on the average have risen from 0.7 to |
| the earth's lower atmosphere is warming up. The | | | | 0.8 degrees. This has been documented as the culprit |
| world is being warned of hunger and thirst for millions | | | | in the ongoing death or bleaching of the Indian coral |
| (even billions) due to global warming. The continuous | | | | reefs, as well as those in the Indian Ocean. Warmer |
| emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide | | | | temperatures also means more evaporation |
| and methane has worsened the situation especially in | | | | increasing the concentration of water vapor in the |
| the most recent years. Global warming has triggered | | | | atmosphere, another influencing factor that has |
| climate change in all parts of the world, most | | | | increased the greenhouse effect over the oceans by |
| apparent of which is the warming of the polar zones | | | | 4% over the past 35 years. |
| which has flushed water from the melted ice to the | | | | Once temperature increase reaches 2 - 3 degrees |
| oceans, disrupting the ecology and the affecting the | | | | above that in 1900, Australias alpine zones will totally |
| lifestyle of thousands of people. | | | | be gone. Another scary consequence would be the |
| Millions of homes (pegged at 7 million) could be | | | | imminent total destruction of Amazon forest system |
| washed away by sea levels that are continuously on | | | | of South America. The greatest casualty: biodiversity. |
| the swell. The Great Barrier Reef, the pride of | | | | As with any late realizations, global warming |
| Australia and the refuge of most of the world's most | | | | awareness is not without tradeoffs in regards to |
| treasured sea creatures, (the living reef in itself | | | | human and economic costs, which is relatively higher |
| considered as the biggest organism in the world) | | | | in poor countries. Many African countries are now |
| could die in just decades, the same reports say. This | | | | being debilitated by very serious water shortages. |
| is part of the draft of the UN Intergovernmental | | | | Flooding of coastal areas in low-lying regions is now a |
| Panel on Global Warming Awareness 2007 or IPCC. | | | | common phenomenon. Hardest hit are Bangladesh |
| This highly compelling study from IPCC is a significant | | | | and many islands along the Pacific. |
| development it has always been reputed for | | | | Other alarming consequences of global warming |
| no-nonsense (neutral), highly statistical (cautious) | | | | include: |
| reporting. | | | | Killer heat waves . They will be worse, will last longer, |
| Australia is a focal point in one part of the reports, | | | | and will be more frequent than that of summer 2003 |
| warning on the effects of warmer and more acidic | | | | which hit southern Europe. |
| seas on the Great Barrier Reef (mainly coral | | | | Stronger, more destructive tropical storms and |
| bleaching) by 2030. This detrimental effect is caused | | | | hurricanes. There will also be marked increase in |
| by the death of the corals, leaving only its skeleton | | | | rainfall and flooding of coastlines. |
| (used to be sold but is now prohibited as decorative | | | | High probability of ice-free summers in the Arctic, |
| items tourist shops). | | | | ongoing melting of mountain glaciers, ice caps and ice |
| In the report, scientists say that the coast northeast | | | | sheets. |
| of Australia known as The World Heritage would be | | | | Significant rise in sea levels. Even if carbon dioxide |
| most damaged by warmer temperatures. This means | | | | levels will be stabilized, the world will still stand |
| extinction of more than 133,000 square miles of | | | | witness to higher sea levels 0.43 meters higher in |
| underwater living wonders. | | | | 2100 and 0.8 meters by 2300. |