ABSTRACT
Earth’s climate is undoubtedly changing; both global warming and rising sea levels are a reality. Globally averaged temperature for May 2012 marked the second warmest May since recordkeeping began in 1880. May 2012 also marks the 36th consecutive May and the 327th consecutive month with a global temperature above the twentieth-century average. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, the global land surface temperature was 2.02°F (1.12°C) above the twentieth-century average of 46.4°F (8.1°C), making it the fourth warmest March-May on record. Record April and May warmth in the Northern Hemisphere led to the warmest spring on record with a temperature departure of 2.48°F (1.38°C) above the long-term average. Warmth was most pronounced across central Eurasia and most of North America. It was cooler than average across Alaska in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia in the Southern Hemisphere. The March-May global sea surface temperature was 0.39°C (0.70°F) above the twentieth-century average of 16.1°C (61.0°F), tying with 2011 as the 11th
CONTENTS
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Causes of Climate Change ............................................................................................................... 12 Special Report on Emission Scenarios and Climate Models .......................................................... 12 Consequences of Climate Change ................................................................................................... 13 Sustainable Global Agricultural System .......................................................................................... 14 Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Systems ..................................................... 15 Access to Food and Livelihood Security ......................................................................................... 16 Soil and Subsoil Water Resources ................................................................................................... 18 Rise in Sea Levels and Seawater Acidication ................................................................................ 19 Agricultural Perspective of Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change ...................................20 Economics of Climate Change and Mitigation ................................................................................23 Summary ..........................................................................................................................................25 References ........................................................................................................................................25
