Highlights of IPCC report contents by continent

The IPCC predicts there is either an 80 or 90 percent chance these events will occur due to climate change: Africa: Studies confirm Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents due to multiple stresses and a low adaptive capacity. By 2020 between 75 and 250 million people will have increased water stress. Access to food is projected to be severely compromised. Sea-level rise will affect coastal areas. Asia: Water availability, especially in river basins, is projected to affect more than a billion people by 2050. Coastal areas in the south, east and southeast regions will be at increased risk of flooding. Mortality due to diarrheal disease is expected to rise in the south, east and southeast regions. Australia and New Zealand: Water security problems are expected to increase by 2030. Sea level rise and an increase in flooding are expected to occur in coastal areas. While the region has substantial adaptive capacity due to economic, scientific and technical capacities, natural systems have a limited adaptive capacity. Significant loss of biodiversity is projected to occur by 2020. Europe: Impacts of observed current climate changes are consistent with those projected for future climate change. Nearly all regions are expected to be negatively affected by some future impacts of climate change, with the majority of ecosystems having difficulties adapting. In the south, heat waves and forest fires will most likely increase. In the north there will be some benefits, but those are expected to be outweighed by negative impacts. Proactive risk management is likely to benefit adaptation to climate change. Latin America: By 2050, increases in temperature and decreases in soil water are projected to lead to a gradual replacement of tropical forest by savanna in the eastern Amazon region, causing a significant loss of biodiversity. In drier areas it is expected that salinization and desertification of agricultural land will occur; however, soybean yields are expected to increase. Sea-level rise is projected to cause more flooding and shifts in southeast Pacific fish stocks. Water availability for humans will be significantly affected. North America: Moderate climate change is expected to increase crop yields in the early decade of this century. The western mountains are projected to experience more winter flooding and more competition for water resources. Pests, diseases and fires will most likely have increasing impacts on forests. Cities are expected to be further challenged with heat waves and coastal communities will be increasingly stressed. Polar regions: Effects on human communities are expected to be mixed, with reduced heating costs and more navigable sea routes, but a detrimental effect on infrastructure and indigenous ways of life. Biophysical effects are reductions in thickness and extent of ice sheets and glaciers, with a detrimental effect on many organisms.