Climate change is already having a “widespread and discernible impact” on the
planet, according to a new report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. “The most widespread direct risk to human settlements is
flooding and landslides, driven by rainfall, sea-level rise and tropical
storms,” says the report. Around 700 scientists contributed to the report.
Within 25 years, says the panel, major water shortages will afflict 5 billion
people, especially in southern Africa, around the Mediterranean and in central
Asia, which is currently hit by drought.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
2
Babies are born with the neural foundations for maths
3
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
4
The best new science-fiction novels published in July 2026
5
A type of fibre that stimulates GLP-1 release approved for use in food
6
We’ve uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
7
The weirdness of neutrinos could completely rewrite particle physics
8
I’m the first person whose life was saved by CRISPR base editing
9
Slowdown of AMOC ocean current may be gradual and reversible
10
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028



