Atmosphere

The social, environmental and economic impacts associated with climate change are already being felt throughout the world. Modelling across a range of indicators suggests that the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions will have a much larger impact on tropical, as compared to mid-latitude, communities, habitats and biota.

Globally, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (as CO2 equivalents; CO2e) have continued to increase since the previous report. Although the Tropics continues to be a much lower emitter of CO2e (20%) both in total and per capita emissions compared to the rest of the world, CO2e emissions have climbed at a greater rate in the Tropics compared to in the rest of the world.