How Climate Change Will Change the World
Potential Climate Change Impacts
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the total greenhouse gas emissions of 40 industrialized countries rose to a near all-time high in 2005. If this trend continues, it will influence changes in temperature and rainfall and lead to rising sea levels. Other sectors such as agriculture, forests, coastal areas, water resources will also suffer from the consequences.
(Graphic: United States Environmental Protection Agency)
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Potential Climate Change Impacts
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the total greenhouse gas emissions of 40 industrialized countries rose to a near all-time high in 2005. If this trend continues, it will influence changes in temperature and rainfall and lead to rising sea levels. Other sectors such as agriculture, forests, coastal areas, water resources will also suffer from the consequences.
(Graphic: United States Environmental Protection Agency)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
Temperature and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere over the past 400 000 years
Taken in Antarctica, these figures show the strong correlation between the Earth’s climate and the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. The rapid temperature changes going from a warm climate to an ice age within a few decades indicate that climate may be very sensitive to internal or external forcings and feedbacks.
Possible scenarios in the future are strongly dependent on the amount of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists say sudden and dramatic climate changes can be expected, if emissions reach an unknown trigger point.
(Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
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Temperature and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere over the past 400 000 years
Taken in Antarctica, these figures show the strong correlation between the Earth’s climate and the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. The rapid temperature changes going from a warm climate to an ice age within a few decades indicate that climate may be very sensitive to internal or external forcings and feedbacks.
Possible scenarios in the future are strongly dependent on the amount of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists say sudden and dramatic climate changes can be expected, if emissions reach an unknown trigger point.
(Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
National carbon dioxide emissions per capita
The International Energy Agency predicts that global CO2 emissions will rise 60 per cent between the years of 2002 and 2030. This table also indicates the difference from high income to low income nations on CO2 output. Today, the U.S. is still the biggest polluter worldwide with the highest emissions per capita closely followed by China. While Asia’s contribution to man-made greenhouse gas emissions is booming, emissions per capita are still among the lowest.
(Graphic: World Bank, online database, 2004.)
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National carbon dioxide emissions per capita
The International Energy Agency predicts that global CO2 emissions will rise 60 per cent between the years of 2002 and 2030. This table also indicates the difference from high income to low income nations on CO2 output. Today, the U.S. is still the biggest polluter worldwide with the highest emissions per capita closely followed by China. While Asia’s contribution to man-made greenhouse gas emissions is booming, emissions per capita are still among the lowest.
(Graphic: World Bank, online database, 2004.)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
CO2 emissions from industrial processes and land use change
This table shows the different levels of CO2 emissions per capita which vary greatly from developing countries to developed countries. While the developed world contributed most to anthropogenic greenhouse gases originally, developing countries are rapidly catching up concerning their total emissions and are likely to exceed emissions from developed countries between 2020 and 2030. Emissions are generally estimated. (Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
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CO2 emissions from industrial processes and land use change
This table shows the different levels of CO2 emissions per capita which vary greatly from developing countries to developed countries. While the developed world contributed most to anthropogenic greenhouse gases originally, developing countries are rapidly catching up concerning their total emissions and are likely to exceed emissions from developed countries between 2020 and 2030. Emissions are generally estimated. (Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
CO2 emissions from consumption and flaring of fossil fuels
The graphic shows the progress of CO2 emissions created from consumption and flaring of fossil fuels between the years 1980 and 2002. While only Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union managed to reduce their emissions in the past decades, atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases in all other regions have grown significantly, leading to an all-time high level of carbon dioxide concentration.
Emissions are generally estimated.
(Graphic: EIA, 2002/Vital Climage Change Graphics)
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CO2 emissions from consumption and flaring of fossil fuels
The graphic shows the progress of CO2 emissions created from consumption and flaring of fossil fuels between the years 1980 and 2002. While only Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union managed to reduce their emissions in the past decades, atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases in all other regions have grown significantly, leading to an all-time high level of carbon dioxide concentration.
Emissions are generally estimated.
(Graphic: EIA, 2002/Vital Climage Change Graphics)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
Projected changes in the Arctic climate by 2090
This graphic shows the estimated size of the polar ice cap for the year 2090. The arctic is profoundly affected by the changing climate. It is a highly sensitive region, where average temperatures are rising twice as fast as anywhere else in the world. Impacts of melting ice caps are already affecting native people, wildlife and plants. If the sea ice continues to melt at this fast rate, it will soon be possible to develop shipping routes through the arctic.
(Graphic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment)
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Projected changes in the Arctic climate by 2090
This graphic shows the estimated size of the polar ice cap for the year 2090. The arctic is profoundly affected by the changing climate. It is a highly sensitive region, where average temperatures are rising twice as fast as anywhere else in the world. Impacts of melting ice caps are already affecting native people, wildlife and plants. If the sea ice continues to melt at this fast rate, it will soon be possible to develop shipping routes through the arctic.
(Graphic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment)
How Climate Change Will Change the World
Precipitation Change
In the past century, changes in precipitation and temperature trends as well as a rise in global average sea levels have been witnessed. While average rainfall of most parts of the Northern Hemisphere increased most likely by 5 to 10 per cent, precipitation in subtropical land areas has likely decreased by 3 per cent. Increasing global temperature is very likely to have an impact on precipitation trends and the frequency of heavy rainfalls in the past decades.
(Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
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Precipitation Change
In the past century, changes in precipitation and temperature trends as well as a rise in global average sea levels have been witnessed. While average rainfall of most parts of the Northern Hemisphere increased most likely by 5 to 10 per cent, precipitation in subtropical land areas has likely decreased by 3 per cent. Increasing global temperature is very likely to have an impact on precipitation trends and the frequency of heavy rainfalls in the past decades.
(Graphic: Vital Climate Change Graphics)
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