The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the preeminent global authority on climate issues, has just released its latest report, detailing impacts, adaptation strategies, and areas of greatest vulnerability. It makes for grim reading, even with the report’s assurances that effective policy-making can still make a positive difference. Money quote: “the effects of climate change are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans. The world, in many cases, is ill-prepared for risks from a changing climate.”
The New York Times has a good summary. Or you can read this press release from the IPCC.
And for those who still believe this whole subject is mired in scientific controversy, check out the real balance of opinion among experts. Case closed.
Here are some of my earlier thoughts on the issue.