Melting ice and rising seas

When water warms up it expands. At the same time global warming causes polar ice sheets and glaciers to melt.

The combination of these changes is causing sea levels to rise, resulting in flooding and erosion of coastal and low lying areas.

 

Extreme weather, shifting rainfall

Heavy rain and other extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. This can lead tofloods and decreasing water quality, but also decreasing availability of water resources in some regions.

Consequences for Europe

• Southern and central Europe are seeing more frequent heat waves, forest fires and droughts.

• The Mediterranean area is becoming drier, making it even more vulnerable to drought and wildfires.

• Northern Europe is getting significantly wetter, and winter floods could become common.

• Urban areas, where 4 out of 5 Europeans now live, are exposed to heat waves, flooding or rising sea levels, but are often ill-equipped for adapting to climate change. 

Consequences for developing countries

Many poor developing countries are among the most affected. People living there oftendepend heavily on their natural environment and they have the least resources to cope with the changing climate.

Risks for human health

Climate change is already having an impact on health:

• There has been an increase in the number of heat-related deaths in some regions and a decrease in cold-related deaths in others.

• We are already seeing changes in the distribution of some water-borne illnesses and disease vectors.

Costs for society and economy

Damage to property and infrastructure and to human health imposes heavy costs on society and the economy.

Between 1980 and 2011 floods affected more than 5.5 million people and caused direct economic losses of more than €90 billion.

Sectors that rely strongly on certain temperatures and precipitation levels such asagriculture, forestry, energy and tourism are particularly affected.

Risks for wildlife

Climate change is happening so fast that many plants and animal species are  struggling to cope.

Many terrestrial, freshwater and marine species have already moved to new locations. Some plant and animal species will be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperatures continue to rise unchecked.

Recommendations

I the way to recognize and prevent the climate change, we must do very sophisticated complex of measures.

Here's a list of 10 ways you can join in the fight to reduce our carbon footprint.

1. Green your commute

Transportation causes about 25 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, so walk, cycle or take transit whenever you can. You'll save money and get into better shape! If you can't go car-free, try carpooling or car sharing, and use the smallest, most fuel-efficient vehicle possible.

2. Be energy efficient

You already switch off lights — what's next? Change light bulbs to compact fluorescents or LEDs. Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics when not in use. Wash clothes in cold or warm (not hot) water. Dryers are energy hogs, so hang dry when you can. Install a programmable thermostat. Look for the Energy Star® label when buying new appliances. And a home energy audit is cheaper than you think — book one today to find even more ways to save energy.

3. Choose renewable power

Ask your utility to switch your account to clean, renewable power, such as from wind farms. If it doesn't offer this option yet, ask it to.

4. Eat wisely

Buy organic and locally grown foods. Avoid processed items. Grow some of your own food. And eat low on the food chain — at least one meat-free meal a day — since 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from meat and dairy production. Food writer Michael Pollan sums it up best: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

5. Trim your waste

Garbage buried in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Keep stuff out of landfills by composting kitchen scraps and garden trimmings, and recycling paper, plastic, metal and glass. Let store managers and manufacturers know you want products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

6. Let polluters pay

Carbon taxes make polluting activities more expensive and green solutions more affordable, allowing energy-efficient businesses and households to save money. They are one of the most effective ways to reduce Canada's climate impact. If your province doesn't have a carbon tax, ask your premier and MLA to implement one.

7. Fly less

Air travel leaves behind a huge carbon footprint. Before you book your next airline ticket, consider greener options such as buses or trains, or try vacationing closer to home. You can also stay in touch with people by videoconferencing, which saves time as well as travel and accommodation costs.

8. Get informed

Follow the latest news about climate change. Join our community. Host a presentation for your community or workplace by requesting a presenter trained by Al Gore from The Climate Project Canada.

9. Get involved

Take a few minutes to contact your political representatives and the media to tell them you want immediate action on climate change. Remind them that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also build healthier communities, spur economic innovation and create new jobs. And next time you're at the polls, vote for politicians who support effective climate policies.

10. Support and Donate

Many organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation, are working hard on solutions to climate change and rely on financial support from citizens like you.

As a conclusion, I want to say that the climate change will touch all of us, so we need to fight with it as strong as we can. It is a very big problem already, and will be bigger and bigger later.

Sources

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

http://ec.europa.eu/

http://ru.wikipedia.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/

http://www.climatechange.kz/

http://zakon.kz

12