One-third of animal species will be hit by climate change, scientists warn

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Guardian/Press Association

Global temperatures are set to rise 4C above preindustrial levels by 2100 if nothing is done to stem greenhouse gas emissions.

This could have a hugely destructive effect on thousands of common as well as rare and endangered species around the world, according to the researchers.

An estimated 57% of plants and 34% of animals were likely to lose half or more of their habitat range.

But the damage would be greatly reduced if emissions were scaled down in time, the study shows. Losses are reduced by 60% if global warming is cut to 2% above preindustrial levels, with emissions peaking in 2016 and then being reduced by 5% a year. If emissions peak in 2030, losses are reduced by 40%.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/13/animals-species-climate-change

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More will be somewhat affected, of course; the level here is "lose half or more of their habitat range."

[Javaman]

1. "Hit"? I assume they mean dead as in extinct. nt

[Kelvin Mace]

2. Why do we keep posting these stories?

Our corporate Masters have decided this is a fictional issue and that their political underling will not be permitted to act on it in any meaningful manner.

Miami will be under six feet of water before someone decides that maybe we should do something, by which time it will be far too late.

Human extinction is the best we can hope for.

[Nihil]

6. You just might have hit the reason behind the apparent apathy on this subject ...

> Miami will be under six feet of water before someone decides that maybe we should do something

Maybe too many people view this as a price worth paying ...

[valerief]

3. They die? More oil!!! That's all the world owners care about. More oil, more money for them. nt

[raouldukelives]

4. Every lost species a victory for DOW loving, environment despisers.

If your afraid we might address this issue before more are condemed to hell on earth, don't worry, Wall St & investors will never allow it.

[totodeinhere]

5. The good news from that article is that there is still time to do

something about it. But when are political leaders worldwide ever going to take this seriously? I have my doubts that it will happen, but if mankind can go to the moon mankind can also tackle this problem if only there were the will to do it. The article talks about the possibility of reducing losses by 60% but I would like to think that we can do even better than that, much better than that, if we could declare a global emergency and put massive resources behind working to solve this.