Global warming will cause widespread conflict, displace millions of people and devastate the global economy

Leaked draft report from UN panel seen by The Independent is most comprehensive investigation into impact of climate change ever undertaken - and it's not good news

Of all the industrialized nations the United States stands alone in not accepting climate change and its effects upon the environment. No matter that 98% of all climate scientists have empirical conclusively showing that the earths environment is changing.  When climate change is discussed in the media they seek out both sides of the this supposed "debate" insuring that they cannot be accused of showing favor. They call it being objective.  Yet, in giving credence to those in denial of climate change it prevents any concrete steps from being taken which could save the earths environment. 

Americas conservative politicians play their part as well completely denying that climate change is taking place and opposing actions or legislation which would move America's energy needs away from fossil fuels and towards clean and renewable energy. 

America could be leader in finding innovative and new forms of clean energy but its media and conservative political leaders obstruct all such moves through fear mongering and the inability to just say that climate change is taking place.

Coastal systems and  low-lying areas

The report predicts that by the end of the century “hundreds of millions of people will be affected by coastal flooding and displaced due to land loss”. The majority affected will be in East Asia, South-east Asia and South Asia. Rising sea levels mean coastal systems and low-lying areas will increasingly experience  submergence, coastal flooding and coastal erosion.

Food security

Relatively low local temperature increases of 1C or more above pre-industralised levels are projected to “negatively impact” yields of major crops such as wheat, rice and maize in tropical and temperate regions. The report forecasts that climate change will reduce median yields by up to 2 per cent per decade for the rest of the century – against a backdrop of rising demand that is set to increase by 14 per cent per decade until 2050.

The global economy

A global mean temperature increase of 2.5C above pre-industrial levels may lead to global aggregate economic losses of between 0.2 and 2.0 per cent, the report warns. Global GDP was $71.8trn (£43.1trn) in 2012, meaning a 2 per cent reduction would wipe $1.4trn off the world’s economic output that year.

Human health

Until mid-century, climate change will impact human health mainly by exacerbating problems that already exist, the report says. Climate change will lead to increases in ill-health in many regions, with examples including a greater likelihood of injury, disease and death due to more intense heatwaves and fires; increased likelihood of under-nutrition; and increased risks from food and water-borne diseases. Without accelerated investment in planned adaptations, climate change by 2050 would increase the number of undernourished children under the age of five by 20-25 million globally, or by 17-22 per cent, it says.