L.LM. / Climate change is change in the world’s temperatures, precipitation and wind that differ significantly from previous conditions and are seen to induce or bring about a change in the ecosystem and socio-economic activities. The UNFCCC defines climate change as “change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”.The international concerns are that increased concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide are changing climate in a way that is detrimental to our social and economic well being. Human activities have increased greenhouse gas emissions drastically since the industrial revolution by 31%. The impact this would have on the environment would include a rise in sea levels, causing loss of coastlines worldwide of which small island states are more at risk. Inhabitants of these coastline areas would in turn be vulnerable to floods and would eventually be forced to migrate creating yet another problem in international law what has come to be termed climate change refugees. The risk of flooding due to climate change is not limited to coastline areas alone incidents of flooding have been experienced on main lands in several states. According to UNEP half of the world’s population, i.e. 3billion, live in coastal areas. The catastrophic effects of climate change tend to have ripple effects. While climate change originated as an environmental problem it now impact on everyday aspects of human life with implications on international economy, public health, social issues such as migration and loss of livelihood and ultimately threatening peace and security.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:10418 |
| Date | 24 October 2012 |
| Creators | Kanhanga, Tracey R. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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