Adapation of forests and people to climate change : a global assessment report

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main anthropogenic cause of current climate change. The magnitude of future change will be affected by the extent to which these emissions are reduced. Regardless of climate change mitigation activities implemented today or in the near future, however, historical emissions and inertia in the climate system mean that further climate changes are inevitable. Some effects of climate change are already noticeable and there is a need and opportunity to be better prepared for future change. Individuals, societies and institutions should be aware of the impacts that climate change is likely to have and should have strategies in place to adapt to them. Forest, and the goods and services they provide, are essential for human well-being. An assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on forests and forest-dependent people, therefore, is important for effective climate change adaptation. Such an assessment can also assist the development of options for avoiding the harmful effects of climate change and to take advantage of the opportunities provided by it.