Abstract:
The impacts of climate change are increasing in magnitude worldwide. The global burden of climate change impacts already spans deaths, disease, the loss of livelihoods, damage to property and infrastructure, other economic losses, and the loss of biodiversity. Every tonne of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere today compounds these impacts. Unless drastic action is taken to eliminate net emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity and remove historical emissions from the atmosphere, the impacts of climate change will persist for centuries. Some of its consequences, such as sea-level rise or glacier retreat, will become more severe over time, even if human emissions ceased today. Climate change is a global crisis, though one whose impacts will be felt unequally around the world, with the greatest harm typically affecting communities in the Global South, vulnerable individuals in society, and future generations.
Citation:
Stuart-Smith, R.F., Clarke, B.J., Harrington, L.H., Otto, F.E.L. (2021), 'Global Climate Change Impacts Attributable to Deforestation driven by the Bolsonaro Administration: Expert report for submission to the International Criminal Court'. Oxford Sustainable Law Programme. 1-97, https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-03/ICC_report_final-sept-2021.pdf