How bad is climate change?
‘Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism.’ David King, UK government chief scientific advisor, January 2004. 2005 was the warmest year since records began, and all five of the hottest-ever years have occurred since 1997. It is expected that temperatures will continue to rise – by between 2°C and 6°C [?by the end of this century], representing a far greater change than has happened for at least 10,000 years. It is the speed of change that is concerning scientists – giving little chance for people and ecosystems to adapt.
