Scientists have issued dire warnings about the threat from climate change, predicting average world temperatures will rise
by around three degrees by the end of the century, with devastating consequences. In the UK, rising sea levels could potentially cause huge damage to low-lying areas, including London and coastal and river areas.Sir Nicholas Stern's report on climate change warned annual losses from flooding alone could rise from 0.1% of GDP today to double or even quadruple that amount once the
increase in global average temperatures reaches 3 or 4C. There could be an increase in heatwaves like that in 2003 in Europe when 35,000 died and agricultural losses hit 15 billion dollars, while wildlife here would also be hit. Experts have warned Britain is increasingly in danger of flood disasters similar to the devastation in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina.The possibility of flooding caused by storm surges, high tides and heavy rain is likely to increase due to the effects of climate change. The phenomenon will also have a
significant impact on the UK's water supply over the next 30 to 100 years, with a significant increase in severe single season droughts across the UK and there will be changes in the nature of multi-season droughts, research for the Government has found.