Trend Megatrend 1: climate change demands ecological reform

Summary

The first megatrend in the Megatrends 2040 report holds that climate change requires ecological reform. Extreme weather is becoming more frequent, including rising temperatures, cyclones in countries such as Greece, higher sea levels, melting polar ice, droughts and flooding, which threaten safety, growth and the natural environment. The report stresses that the climate would keep changing even if all human emissions stopped at once, while continued pollution and greenhouse gases will worsen warming, ocean acidification and desertification. Emissions are rising mainly with economic development and population growth, and biodiversity and resilience are in sharp decline. Key areas affected include food security, coastal zones, health and lifestyles, migration, soil and public budgets.