It’s later than you think

The UN scientific panel that shares this year’s Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore issued a new report today. The news isn’t good– unless you enjoy hunger, disease, droughts, floods, and heat waves. If that’s the case, the future looks bright, and much closer than you might imagine.

According to the AP:

As early as 2020, 75 million to 250 million people in Africa will suffer water shortages, residents of Asia’s megacities will be at great risk of river and coastal flooding, Europeans can expect extensive species loss, and North Americans will experience longer and hotter heat waves and greater competition for water, the report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says.

UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon is optimistic that quick action following the upcoming Bali conference on climate change will avert the predicted environmental disasters. Of course, Ban is pegging his hopes on the United States and China making real progress and showing strong leadership on climate change issues, so your level of optimism may differ from his.

Tags: Ban-Ki Moon, climate change, disease, drought, floods, heat waves, hunger, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Nobel Peace Prize