Can we successfully adapt to four degrees of global warming?: Yes, no and maybe. ..

Abstract

Although global average warming of 2°C has been identied as the threshold for dangerous climate change, it is increasingly becoming clear that current mitigation efforts will miss this target by a substantial margin (Betts et al., 2011; Stafford Smith et al., 2011). Even if we contemplate ‘overshoot’ emissions trajectories, stabilization at or below 2°C is beginning to look like an impossible dream. Although we may hope for a world in which warming will be limited to 2°C or less, we should certainly plan for more, including average warming of 4°C by the end of this century. .. a Four Degree World. In this chapter, we explore the potential for humanity to adapt to a world in which temperature..