A new book describes in a clear and pertinent manner the effects that climate changes will have, and what we can do to mitigate these and adapt to them. Professor Jørgen E. Olesen, Aarhus University, is one of the book’s two authors.

2012.10.10 | Janne Hansen

Climate change does not belong purely to a distant future; it is already here. Even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases with immediate effect, it will take many years before they disappear from the atmosphere. In the meantime, the greenhouse gases will continue to affect global climate for many decades if not centuries into the future. If we do nothing, the effects of the greenhouse gases will continue to escalate.

And then what? What does climate change mean for you and me and for everyday life in Europe? Can we learn to live with it? Do we still have time to act to prevent the planet from boiling over? There is a sea of knowledge in this field, but much of it is scientific and difficult to understand. Now help is at hand with this new book.

The book ”Life in Europe under climate change” explains in a clear and concise way how life in Europe is and will be developing under climate change. The book is written by Jørgen E. Olesen, professor at Aarhus University, and Joseph Alcamo, chief scientist at the United Nations Environment Programme.

A different Europe

A first look at the explicit charts, graphs and texts reveals very quickly that changes are on the way in Europe. Ski resorts in the Alps will be short of snow, crops in Portugal will fry, roads in Poland will be under water and large swathes of the Netherlands will be flooded. Denmark does not escape; we are already experiencing torrential rain and erratic weather.

Climate changes affect rural and urban areas in Europe. The plants and animals that do not have time to adapt or to move to areas more suitable for their species will die. For the human race, it will be either too warm, too wet or too dry. We will be competing for scarce resources and in some cases will have to move to new areas. Irrespective of whether we try to prevent the problems or to learn to live with them, it will be a costly affair for society.

The book uses the latest knowledge from the IPCC – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – and describes the effects of climate changes in Europe, the initiatives that are being taken in Europe to slow down the progress of climate change and how society can adapt to these changes.

The book is written in a non-technical language. You therefore do not need a degree to understand the ins and outs of climate changes and their effects. The book can therefore be used by schools, decision-makers, NGOs and by anyone with an interest in the subject.

Further information:

• Professor Jørgen E. Olesen, Department of Agroecology, e-mail: jorgene.olesen@agrsci.dk, telephone: +45 8715 7778, mobile: +45 4082 1659