Series: Turn Down the Heat

Report No. 3, November 2014
Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the New Climate Normal

The third report in the Turn Down the Heat series finds that warming of about 1.5°C above pre-industrial times is already locked into the Earth’s atmospheric system by past and predicted greenhouse gas emissions, meaning more severe droughts, sea level rise, and increasing risk to food and water security, coastal communities, and livelihoods. Without concerted action, the planet will continue to warm and extreme weather events that today occur once in hundreds of years could become the new climate normal, causing increased risks and instability.

The report, commissioned by the World Bank Group from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics, analyses likely impacts of 2°C and 4°C warming in three regions — Latin-America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and parts of Europe and Central Asia — and finds feedback loops from melting permafrost and forest dieback and increasingly severe consequences for humans as extreme heat becomes more frequent, water resources become less reliable, diseases move into new ranges, and sea levels rise.

Report
Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the New Climate Normal
Executive Summary in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Regional Summary in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Press releases
“New Climate Normal” Poses Severe Risks to Development—World Bank Report
World Bank Reports Significant Climate Impacts in Central Asia, Russia & the Balkans
Climate Change to Bring More Heat, Water Shortages to Middle East & North Africa
“New climate normal” poses severe risks to development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Features
World Is Locked into About 1.5°C Warming & Risks Are Rising, New Climate Report Finds
Future Impact of Climate Change Now Visible in Yemen's Water Supply
Turn Down the Heat in the Arab World

Infographic
What Climate Change Means for Latin America, Middle East & Central Asia

Multimedia
A Future of Floods and Droughts as Climate Changes
Unavoidable Impact of Climate Change
Real Effects of Global Warming in Latin America

Blog
Two Scenarios for a Hotter and Drier Arab World—And What We Can Do About It

Report No. 2, June 2013
Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience

The second report in the Turn Down the Heat series examines the likely impacts on three regions if the world warms by 2°C over pre-industrial times by mid-century and continues to become 4°C warmer by 2100 — the expected trajectory if countries don't take action to lower greenhouse gas emissions.  

The report looks across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South East Asia, revealing how rising global temperatures are increasingly threatening the health and livelihoods of their most vulnerable populations. It describes the risks to agriculture and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa; rise in sea-level and devastation of coastal areas in South East Asia; and fluctuating rain patterns and food production impacts in South Asia. 

Report
Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience
Executive Summary in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish
Regional Summary in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish

Op-Ed
Ending Poverty Includes Tackling Climate Change

Press release 
Warmer World Will Keep Millions of People Trapped in Poverty, Says New Report

Feature
What Climate Change Means for Africa, Asia and the Coastal Poor

Infographic
What Climate Change Means for Africa and Asia

Multimedia
Climate Change in Africa Will Hit the Poor the Hardest
World Bank: Warmer World Will Trap Millions in Poverty - Interview with President Jim Yong Kim

Blogs
We Must Confront Climate Change to End Poverty, by Jim Kim 
New Climate Report Emphasizes Urgency
Why a 4-Degrees World Won't Cause Just One Water Crisis
Filipinos, How are You Adapting to Climate Change? You Ask, We Answer

Report No. 1, November 2012
Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided 

The first report in the Turn Down the Heat series warns that the world is on track to warm by 4°C  above pre-industrial times by the end of the century if the global community fails to act on climate change. All regions of the world would suffer – some more than others – but the report finds that the poor will suffer the most. 

The authors find that a world 4°C warmer could be devastating, with coastal cities inundated; food security at risk, leading to higher rates of malnutrition; unprecedented heat waves in many regions, especially in the tropics; substantially exacerbated water scarcity in many regions; more intense tropical cyclones; and irreversible loss of biodiversity, including coral reef systems. 

Report
Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4 Degree Warmer World Must Be Avoided
Executive Summary in English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German

Press release
New Report Examines Risks of 4 Degree Hotter World by End of Century

Feature
Climate Change Report Warns of Dramatically Warmer World This Century

Infographic
A 4 Degree Warmer World - We must and can avoid it 

Multimedia
World Could Be 4 Degrees Hotter By End of This Century
World Bank President Urges Policy Action on Climate Change

Blogs
A Wake Up Call
What Does Water Look Like in a 4-Degrees World?
South Asia Would Be Permanently Altered at 4 Degrees and Beyond