This document discusses the regional impacts of global warming across various continents. Some key points include: - In Europe, southern countries will experience extreme drought while northern areas enjoy more moderate climates. Heat waves and floods will cause damage to human life and economies. Agricultural production may rise due to higher CO2 levels. - In Africa, droughts will devastate agriculture and reduce water levels in rivers and lakes. Coastal areas face threats from rising seas. Species loss is a major concern. - Australia and Oceania will see changing ecosystems with drier conditions and more fires and cyclones. The Great Barrier Reef is threatened with higher temperatures. Low-lying Pacific islands are at risk from sea level rise.

1. GLOBAL
WARMING

2. EUROPE
NORTH-SOUTH DIFFERENCES. In the south of the continent, including the
Iberian Peninsula, countries will suffer extreme drought, while northern
nations will enjoy a more temperate climate. There will be a redistribution of
species, and some may disappear.
HEAT WAVES AND FLOODING. Despite the fact that European countries
are better prepared to deal with extreme meteorological conditions, heat
waves and floods will cause very serious damage, both in terms of human life
and financial losses.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION TO RISE. One of the few positive aspects is
that farming will enjoy increased production as a result of the increase in
carbon dioxide concentrations, and more dry grain crops will be planted. In
contrast, fishing will be drastically affected.
THE DISAPPEARING GLACIERS.The alpine glaciers may have all disappeared
by the end of the century, owing to the increase in temperatures. River flow
will also be affected all over Europe, as volumes will not be constant and will be
subject to enormous fluctuations.

3. AFRICA
MORE FAMINE. The prevalence of droughts and the
reduction of moisture in the soil will devastate
agriculture.
Rivers and lakes will gradually lose their water volume
and inland fishing will decline sharply. Coastal fishing,
meanwhile, will be affected by the changes in water
temperature.
DISAPPEARING SPECIES. Africa’s biodiversity is under
enormous threat from climate change, and many species are
endangered, especially those which are endemic to specific
areas.
ENDANGERED CITIES. Most of Africa’s big cities are on coastal areas and
are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. They are also unprepared to
cope with extreme weather conditions such as heat waves.

4. AUSTRALIA
AND
OCEANIA
CHANGES IN ECOSYSTEMS. Australia is
expected to become drier, interspersed by
intervals of very heavy rainfall, with rising
tides and more tropical cyclones. The dry
lands of Australia will be threatened by
salinisation while woodland in New Zealand
will be reduced and more fires will break
out.
GOODBYE BARRIER REEF.
The coral Great Barrier
Reef might disappear
completely if
temperatures carry on
increasing.
In addition, it is expected
that a rise of only one
degree in average
temperatures will kill off
many Australian endemic
species of animals and
plants.
ISLANDS IN DANGER. The islands of Oceania
are at great risk from rising sea levels. Many
coastal areas (which are home to much of the
population) will be completely submerged. Fishing
and tourism—the local people’s main source of
income— will both be affected.

5. This region is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Polar
bears, seals and other Arctic species may
well die out. The lifestyles of the native people in these
cold regions will also be changed and, if the polar ice cap
continues to melt, the Arctic Ocean will become navigable.
THE ARCTIC

6. ASIA
THE SIBERIAN THAW. In northern Asia,
warming could well lead to changes in the
permafrost layers. These effects could be
particularly acute in areas where whole
cities and heavy industry have been built on
permafrost, as they will begin to subside if
the earth thaws.
SERIOUS DAMAGE TO FISHING INDUSTRY. Asia produces 80 per cent of
the fish and seafood which is eaten around the world, and many coastal
communities and towns depend on fishing for their survival. Recently, as a result
of overfishing, sustainable management of fishing fields has been introduced, but
if global warming continues, fish numbers will be reduced even further.
ENTIRE AREAS MAY DISAPPEAR. If the most pessimistic forecasts are correct,
at the end of this century the rising sea level will have eaten up 20 per cent of
Bangladesh and 12 per cent of Vietnam. Huge expanses of rice fields will be
flooded and salinisation will seriously affect remaining coastal agricultural areas.
EXTREME METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. There will probably be sustained
droughts in dry regions together with heavy flooding in temperate and tropical
areas. Soil erosion will worsen and cyclones and typhoons are expected to grow
stronger and more frequent.

7. Even if global warming were
to be stopped tomorrow,
the effects of climate change
on this region will be noticed
for thousands of years.
THE ANTARCTIC

8. AMERICA
WARMER WINTERS IN THE NORTH. In some parts of
the Rocky Mountains, snow will no longer be a common
feature. There will be more droughts on the Great Plains,
while many highly populated cities will be threatened along
the coastal areas. The fishing industry will be seriously
affected in both the Atlantic and the Pacific.
MORE FOREST FIRES. North American woodland is expected to grow
as a result of the rise in carbon dioxide, but also forest fires will
become more frequent with the increase in lightning storms.
THE SOUTH, AT THE MERCY OF EL
NIÑO. This weather phenomenon will
have very different effects in the
subregions of America. For example, in
Mexico it may cause more droughts, while
in other countries, such as Peru, it will
encourage flooding. Meanwhile, all over
the continent, extreme phenomena such
as cyclones and landslides could increase.
THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY
The entire natural wealth of the
Amazon and other South American
forests is under threat. The increase
in temperatures may reduce rainfall
and, if deforestation continues, many
forests may disappear.