Climate Hot Spots
In an effort to communicate the effects of global warming already occurring around the globe, we are shining the spotlight on a few "climate hot spots" in each region of the world. These are places where the impacts of climate change are both pronounced and well documented.
Among the hot spots featured here are major metropolises such as New York; important breadbaskets such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in Bangladesh; and natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef. Use the menu at the left to explore hot spots by region or go to the climate hot map to explore them by impact as well as by region.
Three things are true of every hot spot:
- There is robust scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed literature showing that global warming impacts have already occurred in the area, or are projected to occur as warming trends continue.
- The location is beset by multiple stresses from other human activities that are likely to exacerbate the effects.
- The location is already having, or is projected to have, multiple climate change impacts.
For more detail on the criteria for hot spot selection and the organization of hot spots into regions, see About Climate Hot Map.
