Indeed, scientists were astonished to see that in November, a time when the region enters its coldest period, sea ice retreated in the Arctic.
A similar phenomenon was noted in 2013 when a chunk of sea ice as large as Denmark was removed from the Arctic at a time when sea ice is usually growing. It is therefore no surprise that the Earth’s surface temperatures in 2016 were the highest temperatures ever recorded.
The impacts of global warming and climate change are becoming increasingly clear, but they not only impact our natural environment. They have impacts on all its inhabitants, both fauna and flora. Our biodiversity is affected by changes in climate and other extreme events. At the same time, climate change also worsens other threats like habitat destruction, overexploitation, and disease.
The impacts of climate change on species are clearly illustrated by looking at the cases of the following species, prioritised on the basis of the detrimental effect climate change is having on them.
We need better climate models and a global plan to relocate endangered plant and animal species to new suitable protected environments where they may survive.
Yet when humanity has not even the will to save the rhino what hope do less well known species have?
Human beings are failing to live up to their role as caretakers of the environment.