what are the risks of climate change and what is the main cause?
Steele: We are already witnessing climate change all over the planet. Our energy use, specifically how we are burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas is the main cause. We have now reached a global temperature increase of 0.7 degrees Celsius. Even this small figure is leading to negative impacts. Extreme weather events are increasing, impacting our economies. Ecosystems are changing; dying coral reefs, droughts and floods are examples. Also, glaciers are melting in all the major mountain ranges. In the Himalayas, glacier water feeds the major rivers of eastern Asia – including the Indus River in India and the Yellow River in China. Glacier water is crucial for these rivers in the dry season – once those glaciers are gone, up to two billion people will feel a serious lack of water.
