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greenhouse gas concentrations accumulate in
the atmosphere. Since 1950, Europe has seen
hundreds of its repercussions and changes:
the temperature rise that has caused the latest
decades to be the hottest in history, changes in
precipitation, an increased number of natural
disasters, effects on the environment and on
different sectors of the economy (especially
agriculture and tourism, which has a domino
effect on the rest of the economy), and changes
even in the distribution of mortalities during
heat waves.
In a few years, the rise in temperatures will
intensify in the higher latitudes. Inner cities
will feel hotter and more torrid during the
summer months, especially at night, thus
causing great problems in sleep, which in turn
will have negative effects on the well-being
of the population and provoke sensations of
fatigue, thereby inducing health problems.
InsouthernEurope,and inSpainas aparticular
case, some of the worst consequences
of climate change are expected, such as
significant changes in the water balance, the
disappearance of species or transformations
in rural areas.This will entail not only damage
to nature but also to diverse economic sectors
and their products. Such products that are
today the calling cards of various regions (wine,
oranges, oil, etc.) could eventually vanish.
The daily lives of European citizens will
also change. Just as many people since 1950
have lived through changes in the climate,
from 2015 to 2050, these changes will
continue happening but more acutely. This
will completely transform many areas that
we know today and which will disappear in
a matter of years under the current rate of
emissions.
There will not be sufficient time for animal
species to migrate or, along with plant species,
to adapt because of the speed of changes
being recorded in the climate; thus, many of
them will perish. In addition, such species are
being affected by the arrival of new invading
species, in many cases from tropical climates,
thus reducing the native flora and fauna and
impoverishing the biodiversity of the areas.
Continental aquatic ecosystems and coastal
areas will suffer the effects more intensely,
spelling the end for many such places that are
condemned to disappear. Similarly, forests are
facing an increasing number of droughts and
fires, while high mountain zones in practically
all areas of Europe could be clear of snow and
glaciers.
Climate change,whichaffects thewholeplanet,
will become one of the
worst environmental
disasters in human history
. Therefore, it is
indispensable that we undertake, as soon as
possible, the measures and policies that will
reduce emissions and abate the accumulation
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
so as to avoid, as far as possible, all these
consequences.
If we do not commence these measures soon,
we will arrive at the point of no return, where,
even if emissions were decreased to almost
nil, the impacts would be irreversible and of
an unforeseeable and incalculable magnitude.
In reality, the scientific community fixed the
critical threshold as a maximum increase of
2ºC but the temperature continues rising every
year and each one is warmer than the last.
In other words, the countdown has already
Jonathan Gómez Cantero
The scientific community
fixed the critical threshold
as a maximum increase of
2ºC but the temperature
continues rising every
year