Читать книгу Climate Change For Dummies - Elizabeth May - Страница 22

Recent findings have shown that climate change is already well under way in Europe. Years ago, the IPCC projected the changes that the continent is experiencing today: rising temperatures, devastating floods, increased intensity and frequency of heat waves, and increased glacier melt.

As for what’s in store for Europe, the IPCC reports a 99-percent chance that Europe will experience other unfavorable climate changes. Changes experienced so far include the following:

 More flash floods and loss of life in inland areas: In 2021, floods in Germany and Belgium killed more than 200 people and caused billions in damage — experts agree that such previously called “once in 400-year” floods are much more likely because of climate change.

 More heat waves, forest fires and droughts in central, eastern, and southern Europe: These events significantly impacted health and tourism in southern Europe in particular. The worst year on record for forest fires was 2019, until 2021 burned 1.2 million acres (half a million hectares). Much of the forest burned was in southern Europe, but fires are having increasing effects in the north as well.

 Rising sea levels, which will increase erosion: These rising sea levels, coupled with storm surges, will also cause coastal flooding. The Netherlands and Venice are experiencing greater impacts than other areas in Europe dealing with the rising sea level. Venice, a 1,600-year-old Italian city that is one of the world’s greatest heritage sites, is built on log piles (which are gradually sinking) among canals, and so is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of high tides that inundate the city.A report published by the U.S. National Academy of Science says that loss of up to 50 percent of Europe’s native species of plants and animals may be likely if climate change isn’t arrested. Fisheries will also be stressed.

These impacts are all serious, but none of them represents the worst-case scenario — the Gulf Stream stalling. The results of this (stopping of a major ocean current) would be disastrous for Europe. (We look at the Gulf Stream Ocean current issue in Chapter 7.)