The world 4C warmer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.With catastrophic rises in sea levels drowning island nations such as the Maldives, floods and droughts making hundreds of millions homeless and exposing them to starvation and disease, this map shows how the world would be affected by the effects of a 4C rise in global temperature.
On the eve of the climate change talks in Copenhagen, the bleak scenario shown here – based on the latest scientific predictions from the Met Office Hadley Centre – remains a terrifying possibility. Developed nations – those chiefly responsible for emissions – and developing countries which will bear the brunt of climate change are showing little sign of agreement on cutting emissions or on who will pay for poor countries to develop low-carbon economies. Hopes are fading of a deal that could limit a global temperature rise to C, which in itself would see tens of millions displaced.
Professor Bob Watson, Defra's chief scientific adviser and former head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said: "We should start to be prepared at least to think about what are the implications to adapting to 4C. I think it's going to be very, very difficult to meet a target anywhere close to C."
If high emissions continue unchecked, the 4C scenario shown here could become a reality by 2060, according to the Met Office.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments