Several environmental agencies and organisations have predicted that a critical warming event, combined with impending solar-activity will create conditions in which 2013 could turn out to be the warmest year since records began. However, for many scientists this prediction lacks credibility and empirical-justification. These scientists firmly believe that the record loss of sea-ice during the summer of last year – represents the beginnings of an ongoing collapse of the world’s sea-ice, leading to its complete disappearance from the planet as early as 2016.
This vast melt would have grave consequences for the environment, and if it happens is sure to make an impact on the agenda of the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s assessment, which is scheduled to be delivered in the September of this year. Some scientists assert that recent satellite photographs that depict an increasingly blue arctic – confirm that this melt is well and truly underway – leading to additional concerns relating to temperature-change and rising sea-levels.
With annual temperature increases of at least 2 degrees centigrade now considered to be unavoidable by many scientists, experts, politicians and pressure-groups – speakers at the recent Doha climate-summit, spent much of the time encouraging debate and discussion on how the world’s resources, infrastructure and population can adapt to the climate-change. However, at this stage, there is still uncertainty in predicting how these changing circumstances will impact upon the planet; making discussions on how to adapt to them – problematic at the very least.
However, there is general consensus that upcoming environmental change will certainly continue to result in the unpredictable, and on – occasion catastrophic weather the world has experienced in recent years.