Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. Its impacts can already be seen across the globe. World already is facing impacts from climate change and will inevitably see those impacts in the future. The 2007/2008 Global Human Development Report (HDR) demonstrated that climate change is happening and that actions must be taken to reduce its impacts and reduce the extent of that change. Impacts from climate change caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere are expected to lead to a myriad of problems that affect human development. Negative impacts may include damages from more frequent natural disasters and sea-level rise, strains on food production, harm to human health, and many others. If not addressed, climate change can restrict people’s choices, slow down and undermine development gains, and have a negative impact on human development in general.

The Global HDR calls for international action to address both the mitigation of climate change and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. This recommendation is based on the fact that, even if emissions of greenhouse gases were reduced drastically today, emissions that have already been released would still have an impact in the immediate future, because most greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for long periods of time. For example, in 30 years the environment can only absorb half of the CO2 contained in the atmosphere.

Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If temperatures increase up to 5-6°C, which would be possible under business as usual scenarios, climate change would result in a 5-10% loss in global GDP, with developing countries suffering costs in excess of 10%, even when only market impacts, such as losses to agriculture, energy use and forestry, were included. If non-market impacts are included, such as environmental and health damage, the estimates for damages are as high

To reduce the risks from climate change, emissions must be significantly reduced by 50% by 2050 and by beginning to adapt to existing climate variability and future climate change. Looking beyond 2020, it is difficult to speculate about the costs of reduction and what each country will need to do to mitigate their emissions. However, a significant global shift will be necessary to avoid dangerous climate change.

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Climate Change

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