A panel of scientists told Congress the entire ice mass of Greenland will disappear from the world map if temperatures rise by as little as 2C –3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, with severe consequences for the rest of the world.The fall-out would be felt thousands of miles away from the Arctic, unleashing a global sea level rise of 23 feet. Low-lying cities such as New Orleans would vanish.

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When the high tide season arrives, the streets of Venice become blocked with water. Wooden walkways must be erected in order for pedestrians to walk safely. The high water level is causing damage to Venice and disruption to its inhabitants. It has now reached the point at which city governors see the problem as critical. This may have more to do with global warming and the melting polar ice caps than with Venice sinking into its own foundations.

The level to which Venice is sinking is now seen as critical. Many theories and concepts are being developed to stop Venice sinking. City leaders are now considering investing in huge steel gates to block the floods in order to stop Venice sinking. The cost of this project is estimated at around two or three billion euros, but will this enormous price tag be enough to stop Venice sinking?

Global warming is an issue that is taken very seriously and is a major environmental concern for towns and cities that are coastal or built on islands. Reports have shown that the ice caps are melting at their fastest rate ever, and it is becoming a critical issue. Experts are seriously addressing the issue in order to find a solution to the problem.

The largest coral ecosystem in the world, it is far bigger than Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland combined.

The Great Barrier Reef consists of some 400 different species of hard and soft coral in every imaginable colour. It is home to 1,500 varieties of fish and thousands of different shellfish, whose existence depends on the coral.

Higher water temperatures are very likely to have devastating consequences for the reef, as will increasing acidification of the oceans. If the water temperature rises 1.5°C2°C, many more parts of the coral will bleach and eventually die. An increase of 3°C would wipe the reefs out completely.

Global warming is expected to raise the temperature of the water in the area by at least 2°C by 2100. In other words, it is highly probable that the Great Barrier Reef will disappear from the surface of the Earth.

Experiencing sea-level rise faster than any other place on Earth, these fragile islands are disappearing quickly. In last 20 years four islands have been submerged leaving 6,000 families displaced. It is estimated that 30,000 people will lose their homes by 2020 as 15 percent of the Sundarbans habitable land will be gone.

Increased frequency and strength of tropical storms and higher tides are making the people of the Sundarbans victims of climate change. This is their story.

Threat: Rising Sea Levels
Large areas of Maldives are likely to be submerged if ocean levels continue to rise. To highlight this issue, the Maldives president held an underwater cabinet meeting urging all countries to cut down their CO₂ emissions.