World before disaster

The prospect of an Earth temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius is now " very likely to be unavoidable " and people have to learn to live up to that situation.

Pessimistic report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published September 18, at the same time as the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly with one of the hot topics Burns are climate change. Independent (UK) newspaper said the latest IPCC study confirmed that the fear of the world is becoming faster than forecast.

2 billion people lack water

More than a decade ago, the countries of the European Union set a milestone of 2 ^O C, the level of temperature that, if overcome, the effects of climate change will become disastrous. It is estimated that up to 2 billion people globally lack of drinking water and 30% of animal and plant species are in danger of extinction if the temperature increases in the 1.5-2.5 ^O C.

Two years ago, a study predicted that the world only had a maximum of ten years before reaching this " critical point ". In the Sept. 18 report, the IPCC said that the impact of the temperature rise was already evident rather than waiting for another eight years.

According to the IPCC risk rating scale, using the word " very likely " means that the world has less than 10% chance to limit global temperatures by 2 ^O C. Professor Martin Parry, The co-chair of the group drafted the IPCC report, bitterly: " Ten years ago, we talked about the effects of climate change on our descendants. Now those harms are happening to it's our life ".

People in the Ladakh plateau (north India) wait for water from the public tap.With an annual rainfall of about 50mm and 90% of the water taken from glaciers, the Ladakhans are afraid to become the first to experience the effects of warmer weather.(Photo: AFP)

According to Parry, people now have no choice but to adapt to living with climate change. The thing is that it is the countries and the poorest people who suffer the worst from climate change. Professor Parry called on developed countries to help the most affected areas, including sub-Saharan Africa and major river basins in Asia. Measures to help is to use modern technology in irrigation, use drought-tolerant crops and apply advanced construction techniques.

When the temperature is hot, add 2 ^O C .

Asia : about 1 billion people lack clean water. Corn and wheat production decreased by 5% in India, rice production decreased by 12% in China. The risk of flooding in coastal areas increases.

Africa : about 350-600 million people suffer from water shortage. By 2020, agricultural output will decrease by only half, the area of ​​barren land will increase by 8%. The number of sub-Saharan species in danger of extinction increased by 10%.

Australia and New Zealand : each year 3,000-5,000 more people die from heat-related diseases. By 2030, the south and east of Australia are no longer guaranteed enough water for domestic use. Great Barrier Reef is discolored every year.

Europe : warmer temperatures help wheat production increase 25% in Northern Europe, but domestic water for Southern Europe will drop by a quarter. Heatwaves, wildfires and extreme weather events such as flash floods will occur more often. Many new diseases appear.

Latin America : 77 million people lack drinking water, tropical glaciers disappear. Tropical forests will turn into desert, the risk of flooding increases in low-lying coastal areas like El Salvador and Guyana.

North America : crop yields increase by 20% thanks to warming temperatures but economic losses from extreme natural disasters such as Katrina will continue to increase.

The polar region : the melting rate of the permafrost increases to 15% per year, the total amount of permafrost will decrease by about 20%. Aboriginal communities like the Inuit lost their traditional lifestyle.

Small islands : low-lying islands are particularly sensitive to rising sea levels. Typically island of Maldives, currently encroached by sea.

THANH TRUC