Climate change changes life on earth

The climate is changing. As the climate plays a prominent role in the conditions for life on earth, climate change will have significant consequences for biodiversity and humankind.

Effects
Various effects of temperature increases to date are already discernible: the size of glaciers around the globe is diminishing, the annual spread of drift ice in the Artic region gets smaller year by year, and the droughts in for example southern Europe are getting longer, causing damage to agriculture and triggering a higher number of wildfires. The last few years, the number of severe hurricanes wreaking havoc on the southern coast of the United States is increasing and so is the frequency of extremely high sea-water temperatures. The Netherlands, where the average rainfall has increased, has to face more flooding. An indirect effect of global warming, which is also important for the low-lying Netherlands, is the rising sea level. Today, the consequences of climate change for biodiversity are clearly noticeable. A growing number of southern bird species is found in the Netherlands, where the milder winters provide excellent survival conditions. In the south of Europe, the effects of desertification are becoming increasingly visible. The existence of the tundras in Siberia and Canada, a unique ecosystem, is in jeopardy. Climate experts warn that certain tropical forests will disappear if the dry periods grow longer.

Mitigation and adaptation
Climate change is a complex problem; a simple solution does not exist. Yet, much can be done in both removing the causes (mitigation) and adapting to the changing circumstances (adaptation). Mitigation aims at the reduction of greenhouse gases and/or laying down atmospheric carbon dioxide limits. The mitigation measures include setting up a market for CO2 credits, planting trees, enhancing energy efficiency of equipment and production processes, and preventing deforestation. It is true that certain measures (e.g. planting trees) might compensate for carbon dioxide emissions, but eventually the long-term solution should be found in a change from a fossil fuel based economy to an economy that is based on sustainable sources of energy. Examples of adaptation include creating ecological corridors or buffer zones along major rivers for water storage. These are measures that increase the resilience of an ecosystem and anticipate on a changing climate.

What does IUCN NL do?
IUCN NL participates in the Dutch national climate programme HIER. Through its Robust Ecosystems against Climate Change Project, IUCN NL invests in the recovery of affected moist forests, mountain forests and coral reefs. A quick climate change can deal the final blow to these biodiversity-rich ecosystems once they have already been affected, but adaptation measures may bolster their resilience.

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• HIER Climate Campaign