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Since life began on earth, changes in the global climate have affected the distribution of organisms as well as their interactions. However, human-induced increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are causing much more rapid changes in the earth's climate than have been experienced for millennia. Evidence of global warming is plentiful and includes data on satellite-measured sea level change, lengthened growing season and increased precipitation intensities resulting in increased flood risk during winter in the northern hemisphere. With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather patterns. This book is a highly informative source on global warming and climate change--issues that are perhaps the greatest threat to this planet. It describes the process of global climate change, its current and future impacts on human health, and how our societies can lessen those adverse impacts, via adaptation strategies and by reducing green house gas emissions. It will be a valuable reference tool for environmental scientists, activists and scholars in the field.