Turn down the heat: climate extremes, regional impacts, and the case for resilience

  Available online: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/06/1 [...]

This report focuses on the risks of climate change to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and South Asia. Building on the 2012 report, Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided, this new scientific analysis gives a more detailed look at how the negative impacts of climate change already in motion could create devastating conditions especially for those least able to adapt. It asserts that the case for resilience has never been stronger. This report demands action. It reinforces the fact that climate change is a fundamental threat to economic development and the fight against poverty.

While covering a range of sectors, this report focuses on how climate change impacts on agricultural production, water resources, coastal zone fisheries, and coastal safety are likely to increase, often significantly, as global warming climbs from present levels of 0.8°C up to 1.5°C, 2°C and 4°C above pre-industrial levels. It illustrates the range of impacts that much of the developing world is already experiencing, and would be further exposed to, and it indicates how these risks and disruptions could be felt differently in other parts of the world. Among the key issues highlighted in this report are: (i) unusual and unprecedented heat extremes; (ii) rainfall regime changes and water availability; (iii) agricultural yields and nutritional quality; (iv) terrestrial ecosystems; (v) sea-level rise; and (vi) marine ecosystems.

Language(s): English

ISBN (or other code): 978-1-4648-0056-6

Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Climate policies ; Agroclimatology ; Food Safety ; Severe cold ; Heat wave Add tag