Human activities, particularly fossil fuel based energy production and use, as well as land use, have led to increases in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides). Greenhouse gases emitted by one country affect countries worldwide, over decades to centuries. The impacts of such emissions include Earth’s surface temperature increases, altered rainfall patterns, sea level rise, and increased frequency and severity of storm surges, floods, droughts and heat waves. These changes have broader impacts, adversely affecting many developing countries and societies through agricultural economic losses, access to clean water, loss of livelihoods and increased incidences of vector and water-borne diseases. This issue examines how climate change has affected development and what actions are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation), and what can be done to adjust to ongoing and potential effects of climate change (adaptation)
