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Water, Water Everywhere…and Nowhere
Climate change is putting water on the move, and the implications are troubling.
With the recent release of the IPCC report, the media has focused like a laser on two key pieces of data: the projected rise in global surface temperature (2 – 11.5 degrees F) and the projected rise in global sea level (11 – 17 inches). Lost in the frenzy; however, are reports on the devastating affects the lack of water caused by global climate change will have.
Rising sea levels will no doubt be a problem, and certainly more so than the IPCC is willing to state since it does not take the melting icecaps into consideration in its report. Already island nations such as Tuvalu, which is only a few meters above sea level at its highest point, are seeing the consequences of the global shift in weather patterns. A half meter rise in sea level may leave it completely uninhabitable. Even the United States is bearing the brunt of the early effects. Extraordinary waves have battered the Alaskan coast so mercilessly that entire native communities are being forced to move further inland to escape falling into the sea as the waves eat away at the cliffs.
But it’s the lack of water that will have the biggest impact. What’s spurring China’s action on climate change (reportedly promising to reduce its emissions by 20% over the next five years) is the fact that decreasing rainfall and receding glaciers are causing drought conditions currently affecting 300,000 people. Disappearing glaciers have the potential to impact over half a billion people in China.
Meanwhile, Africa will have serious problems of its own. The Sahara will continue to increase its reach and crop production is expected to drop dramatically as shifting weather patterns will cause more, and harsher droughts. With more than 90% of sub-Saharan Africans depending on rain-fed agriculture, there are certain to be severe consequences in coming decades.
Posted by Sean on 02/06
