Over the past 200 years, human activities have significantly altered the world’s atmosphere. Increases in greenhouse gas concentrations have led to a warming of the Earth’s surface and, because greenhouse gas concentrations are continuing to increase, this warming will continue. Other changes in climate, particularly rainfall, are likely to be associated with this warming.
Climate change will have social, economic and ecological impacts. There will be both winners and losers. All our natural ecosystems are vulnerable to clim