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              areas. Global warming could spark regional conflicts as large
numbers of environmental refugees are driven from their homes.
As the climate heats up, droughts are expected to become
more frequent and severe in some locations. Sustained droughts
make wildfires more likely, and crops and trees more vulnerable to
pest infestations and disease. In the Canadian Maritimes it has
been noted that many plants are blooming earlier, making them
vulnerable to late frosts. Forests are being affected. Northern tree
lines will advance north into tundra areas. Forests sensitive to
drought may be adversely affected. White spruce forests in Alaska
have already experienced extreme stress due to temperature rises,
and spruce bark beede, usually controlled by winter freezing, have
caused the death of 2.3 million trees in Alaska, the largest loss due
to insects ever recorded in North America. Steven McNulty of the
National Forest Service says, " Western alpine forests are likely to
disappear, threatening the environment and the timber industry."
Aspens, birch and maple may decrease by 90%. Loss of forests
means loss of habitat for much of our wildlife. Costs of fire
fighting and decline of the timber industry and food production
will affect us all.
Water levels in the St. Lawrence River may drop even
more. From 1988 to 1991, a 30 cm drop resulted in a 15%
decrease in tonnage handled at the Port of Montreal and they
project the river will lower another 1.25 meters. Costs of
transportation on imported items will increase, as more ships are
required to ship required commodities.
In coastal zones, rising sea levels inundate wetlands and
low lying areas, erode beaches, intensify flooding and increase
salinity of rivers, bays and groundwater tables. Many ocean shores
are currently eroding at 1- 4 feet per year. In June 2000 the Federal
Emergency Management Agency estimated that about 1/ 4 of
homes and structures within 500 feet of the Great Lakes shorelines
will be overtaken by erosion in the next 60 years. As homes and
resorts on beaches around the world are taken over by rising seas,
insurance rates and real estate costs will be adversely affected.
David Pimental of Cornell University says, " Consequences
for real estate are likely to be serious. With the projected one- meter
sea level rise, almost 15 meters of shoreline may be lost. Cropland
is expected to decline by 30 percent while population is projected
to double by 2075, leaving many people hungry."
Rising sea levels increase the salinity of both surface and
ground water. As salt water reaches further upstream in major
rivers, the existing intakes for cities would draw salty water during