Impacts of climate change
The problem with climate change and the global rise in temperatures is that it changes and disrupts the way that the planet works. There is no one single impact – it depends where you are on the planet as to what the direct effects of a changing climate will mean for you. But around the world we are seeing some very worrying impacts which will lead to billions of people suffering and possibly many millions of people dying because of climate change.
On top of this some of the world's most treasured natural jewels – our wildlife and wild places – may be destroyed forever, some examples of which can be found in the UK. It may be that cod, which is at its southern limit in the UK and is already heavily depleted from over fishing, may move north and be lost from UK waters altogether.
Forests
Forests are also massively important carbon sinks that absorb carbon dioxide, and then release oxygen, they also tend to be the areas on land with the richest diversity of plant and animal species.
Melting glaciers
One example of the potentially devastating impacts of climate change is the rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayas – the huge mountain chain that runs through the middle of Asia.
Polar regions
The polar regions are experiencing the most dramatic increase in average temperatures and the Arctic is already experiencing severe and devastating climatic changes.
Warming oceans
When the atmosphere warms up, so do the world's oceans - causing many dramatic impacts.