What is with the weather??

Sometimes we think that climate change is fifty years away or that it will be a problem to be solved by our grand-children but you know? We are so wrong. According to the world´s experts- the UN´s Intergovernmental panel on climate change- the earth is warming faster that at any time in the past 10.000 years.

The effects of temperature rise are already being experienced on a global scale. For example, in April 2007 has been the warmest month in the United Kingdom since 1865. And in the U.S.A at least eight states has faced severe or extreme drought, during the last years.

Scientists predict that hurricane and tornados will increase in intensity and range as a result of climate change. This means that category 4 and 5 storms, like the one that flooded New Orleans, will become more and more common.

Global warming is fast transforming weather patterns and threatens many millions of people with disaster. The direct knock-on effects of climate change could lead to a billon people becoming refugees.

Some of the effects predicted are:

Sea level rises: This will drown many coastal cities and Small Island
Extreme weather events: floods, droughts and hurricane.
Changes in rainfall patterns, altering the timing of seasons
People die: The world health organization say that 150.000 people already die every year from climate change, and people in developing countries are four times more likely to die en natural disasters than people in developed countries.

Pedro