Climate change has the potential to dramatically change the world in which we live.
For thousands of years, the global temperature has been relatively stable varying within plus or minus 0.5 degrees. In this time mankind has been building towns, sowing crops, and raising animals relying on the relatively predictable and stable weather patterns and cycles.
Now, global temperatures have risen 1.1 degree over the last 150 years. With this temperature increase, climate change already is widespread, rapid and intensifying. Without global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures are forecast to increase to 2 – 4 degrees above normal within the next century. The places we have lived for thousands of years will be dramatically affected, with many becoming uninhabitable.
Changes to the water cycle will mean more heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, while at the same time there will be more catastrophic flooding and storms. Sea level rise and increased storms will inundate coastal and low-lying areas. Cities, towns, infrastructure and crops will be destroyed. Mass migration, water and food shortages and insecurity, disaster relief, disease and poverty will become widespread global issues.
Increased competition for essential resources, unrest and conflict has the potential to destabilise the global conditions that have supported economic growth, development, trade, and increased prosperity and quality of life over the last 70 years.
Even though Taupō District won’t feel many of these effects directly, we won’t be immune from these global consequences. Preventing it requires global action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. The entire world has to do its best to prevent a future we don’t want to live in – we need to do our bit too.
Global impacts of climate change
