Climate change is a serious environmental challenge that could undermine the drive for sustainable development. The global mean surface temperature has increased by an average of ° Celsius (°C) over the last 100 years, largely due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (IPCC, 2002). Most of this change has occurred in the past 30 to 40 years, and the rate of increase is accelerating. These rising temperatures will have significant impacts at a global scale and at local and regional levels. While it remains important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reverse climate change in the long run, many of the impacts of.
