Malaria, which already kills two million a year in Africa, is reaching higher altitudes. The movie horror-fantasy of the sea engulfing east coast cities could become reality this century if nothing is done to halt global warming, scientists believe. Phenomena already attributed to global warming include 196,000 hectares in Florida burnt and 300 homes and other structures destroyed by fires two years ago, and an ice storm that killed 44 in New England the same year. The other impact is the spread of infectious diseases. West Nile disease, borne by mosquitoes, has been found in the greater New York region, killing about 10 people in the past two summers.
Higher temperatures allow insects and rodents to survive and breed.
Cases of malaria have been recorded for the first time in Queens, New York. But scientists are in no doubt that the threat from climate change is growing. Hundreds of cities face regular restrictions, with flows as little as one hour a day. The water table on the north China plain is falling by 1.5 metres a year. Glaciers and lakes have shrunk with alarming speed on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau over the past 15 years.