What Does Global Warming Mean?

The historic climate change agreement by more than 200 nations during the United Nations talk. But what can we expect if global temperatures continue?

17:48 14 December 2015

Based on studies, mountain glaciers and rivers will start to disappear if the global temperature increases by two degrees. This will also result in landslides as the permafrost that hold them together will melt away.

 

By 2100, sea levels could rise by a metre. This will kill thousands of people as countries, such as Maldives, will be submerged in water. People will also continue to struggle with the increasing heat.

 

Global warming can also make the ecosystem collapse and a third of life will be at risk of extinction. As plants will stop growing, they will not be able to absorb carbon dioxide, making the global warming worse.

 

If the world's temperature rises by three degrees, 40per cent of the Amazon rainforest will be destroyed. Asia, Australia, and the southeast of the US will face destruction due to stronger hurricanes. Holland, on the other hand, will be torn apart by the North Sea. Saltwater is also expected to creep upstream, poisoning groundwater and ruining the food supply.

 

If the temperature increases by six degrees, rainforests will become desserts. This will push millions of people to other parts of the world that may still be habitable, resulting in racial conflict and civil war.

 

To prevent these from happening, people are urged to plant trees, to use energy-saving light bulbs, and to save water as much as possible.