Climate vulnerability monitor 2010: the state of the climate crisis

This report takes a new approach to assessing the climate vulnerability of the world and its regions, countries and communities. Its analysis is built around: four distinct climate impact areas; five levels of vulnerability to climate change; and two points in time, 2010 and 2030. The climate impact areas are: health impact; weather disasters, including storms, floods and wildfires; habitat loss; and economic stress. The report looks at pre-existing characteristics of society that are knowingly affected by climate change and maps the level of vulnerability and expected impacts as implied by the effect that real or projected changes in the climate will have on these. It uses globally comparable information in order to establish reference points across countries. It identifies how inexpensive it is to limit the majority of the negative impacts of climate change seen today, from the effects of the most violent storms and floods, to epidemics, severe drought, desertification, and even rising seas. It intends to help better identify the needs of communities facing serious climate impacts and to establish a firmer understanding of the nature of the climate crisis as it affects the world