Health implications of GCC are discussed however, and include increases in heatrelated illness and deaths, increases in disease vectors' range and populations, trauma induced by severe weather events, change in availability of food and medicines. Infants, the elderly, and lowincome residents will be affected to a greater extent than the general population. Discussions of ecological risks center on the predicted rise in sea level and associated effects on coastal ecosystems, especially in coastal area projects. Inland habitat alteration due to changes in temperature and precipitation and subsequent loss of species are also concerns, as is the proliferation of other species currently held in check by cooler temperatures. Profound impacts to future generations lead the list of risks to quality of life, including potentially staggering economic impacts related to shifts in agricultural production, energy use, property loss, storm damage, and water supply problems.
Equity is also a concern.
Of particular note, is the fact that the developed areas most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions are also those most able to cope with the effects of global climate change. The Houston project did not hesitate to point to the economic impacts CO2 controls would have on their industrial region. Low vs. High Low rankings were based in part on a lack of confidence in predicted scenarios, but also were driven by the comparative nature of the projectother problems on the list were considered to be more pressing. Medium rankings reflect a potentially high level of concern tempered by the uncertainty of effects occurring, a rationale shared by the projects which chose not to rank the issue at all. In these cases, project reports acknowledge a great deal of uncertainty in the effects, but convey a strong sense of responsibility for addressing the problem sooner rather than later.