Impacts of climate change
Scientists can now predict the main features of the future climate with some confidence. From these climate predictions it is possible to generate an understanding of how all aspects of life will change.
Climate change will have environmental, social and economic impacts. Without considerable efforts today the impacts could be very severe:
- Environmental: we may see high levels of species extinctions, loss of habitats and a change in the distribution of surviving biological diversity;
- Social: Sea level rise may lead to large numbers of climate change refugees from low lying countries and increases in droughts and desertification may lead to reduced global food security;
- Economic: The costs associated with climate change are likely to be enormous, from the damage caused by storms and flooding, through to the increased pressure on health care services and infrastructure.
Latest climate predictions for the South East of England suggest that we will experience hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. This is likely to lead to an increase in droughts, heat waves, floods and storms.
Climatic changes will have an impact on the businesses, infrastructure and communities of the New Forest National Park as well as the unique landscape and wildlife.