1. Global warming
"The rapid increase in the average temperature of the planet is a consequence of the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases that are used as coolants", explains José Molinelli, geomorphologist at the University of Puerto Rico, in dialogue with Infobae America.
Its action has multiple environmental, economic and political effects.
2. The rise in sea level
It is produced by the increase of its average temperature. "Being hot, the water occupies a larger volume, which is further increased by the melting of mountain giants," says Molinelli.
"For every centimeter that the sea rises, it is estimated that the coastline is reduced by one meter. The biggest problem would occur if a certain threshold were exceeded, from which the system would become unbalanced and sea level would begin to increase chaotically. Then, if the oceans were to rise one meter, the coasts could be reduced one hundred meters on average. In countries like Bangladesh, with millions of people living by the sea, the effect would be catastrophic, "he adds.
3. Hurricanes
"There are areas where more and more hurricanes are expected and of a much greater intensity," explains Molinelli. But the increase in sea level can favor low intensity hurricanes become devastating due to the dizziness they produce in coastal areas. It was the case of Sandy, who despite being of low status, caused disastrous effects in New York. "
4. Extreme rains and floods
"The impact of the floods is greater because we continue to build large cities on the coasts," says Enrique Jurado Ybarra, a biologist at the School of Forestry Sciences of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, in a dialogue with Infobae America.
"Events that we previously considered extreme are no longer because they occur frequently. The native floods in Venezuela, or Hurricane Mitch in Central America, are some examples, "says Molinelli.
5. Droughts
The same imbalances produced by the increase in rainfall in some regions of the world, cause droughts in others. "Africa is going to be the most affected continent. The Sahara desert can reach south, which will cause migrations and famine. "
6. Abrupt drop in temperature
In the same way, what increases the temperature in some regions, decreases in others. "Thaws can cause colder sites due to changes in ocean currents. There is the potential risk of having a frozen Europe in some decades, "explains Jurado Ybarra.
7. The destruction of native flora and fauna
"The changes in the temperature and the increase of the precipitation can cause that places of agricultural tradition stop being apt for the crop. That would affect the distribution and abundance of many animal and plant species. "
8. Population growth
"We have a problem of vertiginous population growth, although in proportional terms there is a deceleration. Since 1960, in just 50 years, 4 billion people joined, more than the population had increased in all past history, "says Molinelli.
"This is not sustainable over time. The demand for resources continues to increase, but not the capacity to produce them. More and more agricultural land is needed, but there is less and less because in many places it has eroded. Monoculture harms ecosystems and thus reduces natural habitats, "he adds.
9. The uncontrolled production of toxic waste
"Urbanization is getting bigger, and the production of waste goes hand in hand. By increasing per capita energy consumption, the pollution produced by each individual also increases, "says Jurado Ybarra.
"An example," says Molinelli, "is the export of toxic waste to underdeveloped countries, which has devastating effects."
10. The crisis of humanity
"The myth of the end of the world has a perfectly useful latent function. For example, make us forget everything that makes the end of the world-the real one-ineluctably approaching: the globalized economic crisis, the unsustainable social inequalities, the overheating of the planet, the crisis of identities, the injustice against foreign workers, the clandestine , poor and old abandoned to their sad luck, "wrote political analyst Michel Hajji Georgiou recently in the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour.
"The end of the world is when the Adam Lanza or the Anders Behring Breivik appear shooting at point-blank range, in Connecticut or Utoya, against children and adolescents, for ideological or instinctual madness. The end of the world is the end of humanity. It is today and every day, "he concluded.