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RED 2023 - Chapter 1: Climate change and biodiversity: From the physical basis to the economic perspective

Climate change and biodiversity loss are urgent global challenges that pose significant threats to human life. The latest evidence leaves no doubt that the global climate is changing and biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. Human actions are at the core of these environmental crises. Technological progress, with the resulting economic growth over the last two centuries, has led to a significant improvement in the living standards of the world’s population. However, it has also meant increasing consumption of fossil energy, large-scale land use changes, and overexploitation of natural resources, all of which have altered the ecological balance of the planet. This chapter explores the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity, and human activity. It begins by providing a brief overview of the physical mechanisms behind climate change. These mechanisms explain how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—primarily from burning fossil fuels and activities that alter land use—drive global climate variability. Some of these gases are reabsorbed by terrestrial and marine ecosystems, such as forests and oceans, acting as natural sinks. However, the remainder accumulates in the atmosphere, causing global warming. This warming triggers changes in the climate system, impacting regions differently and affecting human activities, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Abstract

Description

Subject

Ambiente | Cambio climático

País / Región

América Latina y el Caribe

URI

https://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/2138

Date

2023

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4.01 Reporte de Economía y Desarrollo (RED)

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CC-BY-NC-ND
Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as CC-BY-NC-ND
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Files

RED2023 - Chapter 1.pdf (7.89 MB)

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Volume Title

Publisher

CAF- banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe

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