Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems in the Context of Sustainable Development

Abstract

Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicate an abnormally rapid increase in the average annual temperature in recent decades. In the entire history of direct instrumental observations, there has never been such a long and strong warming. Climate change is one of the most acute problems facing the current generation, as it poses a real threat to the development of human potential and the improvement of the quality of life. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called climate change the top geopolitical and economic issue of the 21st century. Speaking at a special high-level meeting on climate change (September 22, 2009), he emphasized that this problem threatens development, peace and prosperity, will lead to water, food and land scarcity, will cancel out progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, will increase poverty and lead to the destabilization of weak states and the fall of regimes.