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