Being Vulnerable to Climate Change

Every region of the world will feel the effects of South Pacific island states are extremely vulnerable to
changes in the global climate. But it is the poor or climate change. In a number of islands vital infrastruc-
vulnerable who will suffer most. Poor people in tropi- ture and major concentrations of settlements are very
cal countries will be particularly vulnerable to climate likely to be at risk. In some extreme cases, migration
change impacts, such as water shortages, declining and resettlement outside national boundaries might
crop yields and disease. have to be considered. In addition, climate change
is projected to exacerbate health problems, such as
Sea level rise will impact millions of people and major heat-related illness, cholera, dengue fever and biotoxin
economic centres in coastal areas. Both ecosystems poisoning, placing additional stress on the already
and human well-being are very vulnerable. Coasts and overextended health systems of most small island states.
rapidly growing coastal settlements and infrastructure in
countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar Sea levels have been rising at a rate of about
and Thailand are at risk from any increase in coastal 3 mm/year since 1993, compared to less than 2
flooding and erosion due to sea level rise. Impacts on mm/year over the previous century. Projections of the
coastal regions might also include the degradation of sea level rise vary, however the majority of the impact
wetlands and coastal lowlands. In this connection the will be post - 2100.
Time scales and sea level rise
Magnitude of response
Sea level rise due to ice melting: several millennia
Sea level rise due to thermal expansion: centuries to millennia
CO2 emissions peak: 0–100 years
Temperature stabilization: a few centuries
Note: Even if CO
2
emissions
decline over a period of a
CO2 stabilization: 100–300 years
couple of centuries, sea level
rise will continue for several
centuries to millennia. CO
2 emissions
y
T
o
da
Source: IPCC 2001a
100 years Time taken to reach equilibrium
1 000 years
DownloaD Graphic 2
Polar bears depend on sea ice for hunting, and use ice corridors to move from one area to another.
Credit: Norwegian Polar Institute
14 VITAL GEO GRAPHICS