Climatic Change and its Implications for Agriculture

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that rising emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other radiatively active gases will lead to an increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth. In addition to changes in global temperature there will be changes in precipitation. The rate and magnitude of these climatic changes is such that they could have a significant impact on agricultural potential in many parts of the world. The nature and extent of such changes will vary regionally and are dependent upon the level of climatic change in each region, the agricultural and management practices used at present, and the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to change.