Climate Witness: Robert Swan, Antarctica

Remote and forbidding, Antarctica and its life support systems are reeling from the impacts of climate change What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Climate change is affecting the • "I’ve been seeing the greening of the islands surrounding vegetation, which is largely our base. Nelson Island is located in the bay across from King composed of algae, lichens and George Island, and now 2 new species of grass can be found mosses, and changes are expected in there. " future , as temperature, and water and

nutrient availability change • "[My] expeditions regularly visit King George Island, to the north Robert Swan is a polar explorer who of the same Antarctic Peninsula that used to contain [ice shelf] • The progressive warming in the has been visiting the Antarctic continent Larsen B. We have noticed significantly more rainfall on the Southern Ocean has been associated for 23 years. He has been running island than when we first began visiting." with major regional changes in expeditions to Antarctica every year terrestrial and marine ecosystems since 1996. • "[Nelson's] island’s glacier is also retreating every summer. We have hiked across the glacier on several expeditions, “We have hiked across the and each year the ice climb starts a little higher up. We see glacier on several expeditions, more and more uncovered ground each year here and the trend and each year the ice climb is not limited to this island alone – it’s being witnessed all over Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, Antarctica. " working group II [15.2.2.1, TS4.2, 1.3.4.2 & starts a little higher up. ” 15.2.2.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/swan • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, Manager WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Witness Programme, WWF-International, Tel: +61 243811873 , address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]

For more information: Chief Scientist, WWF International Climate Change Programme, Email: [email protected] Download B-Roll and high-resolution photos: http://tinyurl.com/2qwso9 www.panda.org/climatewitness Climate Witness: Rajab Mohamed Soselo, Tanzania

In a coastal village some 18 km north of Tanzania’s capital Dar Es Salaam, a fisherman is witness to the damages wrought by rising sea levels What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Large numbers of people are currently • “I have seen how the sea has advanced for about 200m in at risk of floods, particularly in the last 50 years. The seashore is now much closer to my coastal areas, where coastal erosion village, with dramatic consequences. For example, a is already destroying infrastructure, mosque and 5 houses have been washed away by the sea housing and tourism facilities over the years. These houses all belonged to families which I know very well. It has been a terrible experience for them. ” • Eastern Africa has been experiencing an intensifying dipole rainfall pattern • “...the temperatures around [my village] Kunduchi have

on the decadal time-scale. The dipole Rajabu Mohammed Soselo, 63, has lived in increased. As a result the cold season is not well felt. Also, is characterised by [...] declining Kunduchi for 42 years. He is married and the rainy season has become shorter and we are getting [amounts of] rainfall over the has 7 children. less rain with reduced flows of river entering the Indian southern sector Ocean. The reduced river flows have caused a significant reduction in the supply of freshwater. ” “The beach is gradually being

washed away ” Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [9.2.1.5, 9.2.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/soselo • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Kimunya Mugo, WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Communications Manager, WWF address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Eastern Africa Regional Programme Office, Nairobi, Tel: +254 20 3877355, [email protected] For more information: Chief Scientist, WWF International Climate Change Programme, Email: [email protected]

Download B-Roll and high-resolution www.panda.org/climatewitness photos: http://tinyurl.com/2qwso9 Climate Witness: Neil Smith, United Kingdom

Harsh, cold winters used to be the hallmark of the Highlands, a rugged mountainous area of northern Scotland. Not anymore says one ice climber What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Analysis of available long-term river • “Since the mid-1990s the lower mountains have yielded flow records shows that since 1989 very little ice climbing. It may snow, and then freeze, but more than half of Scotland’s largest exceptionally mild weather would arrive and strip the rivers (notably those draining from the mountain bare again. ” west) have recorded their highest flows. Of 16 rivers surveyed, with a • “I certainly remember the abundant frost and it would arrive median record of 39 years, 8 had their much earlier than recent winters. Milder winters are driving maximum flow during 1989-1997 - a Neil Smith lives in the western highlands of snow elevations higher and producing more rain. ” period of high North Atlantic Oscillation Scotland, and has a passion for ice index values consistent with storm climbing. tracks bringing high levels of precipitation to north Britain. “Over the past 27 years I have

observed a dramatic change in the ice conditions throughout the Scottish Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [1.3.8.1] highlands. ”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/smith • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, Manager

WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Witness Programme, WWF-International, Tel: +61 2 4381 1873, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]

The "roof of the world" is a realm of barren steppes, glaciers and fragile lifestyles. Disturbed weather patterns are fundamentally changing this landscape – towards the worse What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Glaciers in Asia are melting faster in • “I have seen many glaciers melting and glacier lakes expanding.” recent years than before , as reported in Central Asia... particularly... the glaciers on • “I go to the Mt Everest Base Camp about 4 to 5 times a year. the Tibetan Plateau The glacier used to be 3 hours away; now it has shifted upward and you can actually have a base camp nearer to • Serious and recurrent floods during where the foot of the mountain is. ” 2002, 2003 and 2004 In 1985, a flood took away Norbu Sherpa's home, forcing him to give • “Rainfall has declined and we are experiencing more • ... thawing of permafrost and decrease in up a career as a monk to support his droughts; trees are dying. This winter there was no snow and family. At 41, this trekking guide in depth of frozen soils due largely to the Khumbu region in Nepal lives no rainfall. Instead, we had snowstorms when we least expected rising temperatures has threatened... close to Mt Everest. them, in spring, baffling locals and tourists alike.” human settlements, and has caused more frequent landslides ... “So I pray [the flood] • “In the old days when we still had cold winters we made the walls of our houses about 20 cm thick. Now we only have to won’t repeat again and make them about 8 cm thick because there’s less snowfall Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working sadly that is all I can do. ” and it’s just not as cold as it used to be. ” group II [10.2.4.2, 1.3.1.1, Tbl 10.3, 10.2.4.2]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; Testimonial: • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/sherpa • Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Sandeep Chamling Rai, WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Change & Energy Program, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. WWF-Nepal, Kathmandu, Tel: +977 14434820, [email protected]

In Miyagi, on the Japanese northeast coast, a farmer has been growing organic rice for 40 years. Will the changing climate allow him to continue in the decades to come? What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• An increase in occurrence of extreme • “We are experiencing more frequent extreme weather weather events including heatwave and than when I started as a farmer. Summer temperatures intense precipitation events is also tend to fluctuate considerably each year — one year projected in East Asia summer temperatures are hotter than average, the next year they are colder. Both extremes are • About 1 °C rise in 20th century, 2 to 3°C detrimental to rice growing. ” rise in large cities Katsuo Sasaki, from Miyagi on the • “Deadly bugs have increased recently, especially • Doubled CO 2 climates could decrease northern part of mainland Honshu, has shield bugs. These bugs cause black spots on rice, rice yields , even in irrigated lowlands, in more than 40 years experience in growing lessening the commercial value of the crops. Ten years many prefectures in central and south rice. ago, I rarely saw shield bugs, but they are increasingly Japan by 0 to 40% “[Because of climate change] I found in most parts of Japan’s agriculture sector.” am afraid that my farm will no

longer be suitable for producing rice in the next Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working decades. ” group II [10.3.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.3,10.4.4.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/sasaki • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Masako Konishi, Climate WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Change Program Officer, WWF-Japan, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Tokyo, Tel: +81 33769 3509 [email protected]

On Kabara, a small island of sandy beaches surrounded by clear blue ocean in the Pacific, rain is everything. Now climate change is making rain more scarce, while rising sea levels are increasingly squeezing the islanders What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Less rainfall coupled with • “Water shortage has always been a part of our lives on accelerated sea-level rise compound Kabara, however in more recent years we have noticed that the threat on water resources our normal dry season seems to have extended and the weather during this period is far drier. This not only affects • Accelerated coastal erosion, saline how much water we have available to use for our daily needs, intrusion into freshwater lenses and but also our gardens. ” increased flooding from the sea cause large effects on human • “...the sea is slowly eroding our coastline and spreading settlements Penina Moce, 43, is married and has 5 the sand over our fishing grounds. The seagrass beds have children. The family lives in Udu on Kabara also spread quickly, clogging up the natural flow of water within • Beach erosion is prevalent due to Island in Fiji. the fishing grounds and burying the coral. ”

sea level rise and human clearing of mangroves (1960s-1990s) “...our normal dry season • “There also used to be colourful, live coral from the edge seems to have extended and of the beach out to the reef. But now everything has gone the weather during this period white.”

Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, is far drier and hotter.” working group II [ Box 16.1 & 1.3.3.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/moce

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Jyotishma Naicker, WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Campaigner, WWF South Pacific address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Programme, Fiji, Tel: +679 331 5533, [email protected]

The Sundarbans are the world’s largest remaining mangrove area, spanning parts of India and Bangladesh. Rising sea levels are a growing threat for people living in this area What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Sea-level rise leads to intrusion of • “I bought 2 ha of land but now have only a little over 1 ha. We salt water into the fresh groundwater are not only losing land but also agricultural productivity in coastal aquifers due to frequent salt water incursion which has affected 5 km 2 of our land since 1969.” • Warmer climate, precipitation decline and droughts in most delta • “In 1975, I built a house on the western fringes of Mousuni regions of India have resulted in Island. My 10 neighbours and I were protected from the sea drying up of wetlands and severe by a 7 m high earthen embankment. But the embankment degradation of ecosystems Jalaluddin Saha was born and raised on started to erode and in 1992, it gave way and about 100 of us Sagar Island, the largest and westernmost lost our homes and land. ” in the Sundarbans, India.

• “Watermelons used to be a very popular cash crop until about

“We are losing land and 10 years back. Hailstorms started to come earlier and began to coincide with watermelon harvesting period causing agricultural productivity due to extensive damage. I have also noticed a shift in paddy salt water incursion ” planting season , it is now 2 months later, which squeezes Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, rd working group II [3.4 & 10.2.4.4] out whatever little scope was there for a 3 crop.”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/saha • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Prakash Rao, Climate WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Change and Energy Programme, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. WWF-India, New Delhi. Tel: +91 11 41504794, [email protected]

New England, in the northeast US, has earned a reputation for spectacular outdoor experiences. Because of climate change, these are no more what they used to be What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Rising temperatures will diminish • “The most dramatic difference I see now in the local snowpack and increase evaporation... environment is that winter conditions are much more unpredictable. The snow and ice season is quite erratic, and • In regions with winter snow, warming it seems to both start later and end sooner than it has in the has shifted the magnitude and past. Good snow and hard ice is what climbers like me used to timing of hydrologic events count on from December through March. It’s just not like that anymore. ”

Nola Royce lives in Albany, New York where she works as a personal trainer and fitness • “Black flies (nasty little biting insects) are now showing instructor. up noticeably earlier in the season. In the past, they would arrive around the 1st of June. Now, they are out and biting almost a month earlier.” We used to camp on frozen “ Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, lakes during our winter trips working group II [14.2.1, 14.2.1] and that is just something we don’t do now. ”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/royce

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Miriam Geitz WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Change Officer, WWF Arctic address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Programme, Oslo, Norway Tel: +47 22 03 65 00, [email protected]

Stretching along Australia’s northeast coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the single largest coral reef system in the world. Now, rising sea temperatures are killing it off What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Eight mass bleaching events on the • “What worries me the most is the threat of coral bleaching 1 Great Barrier Reef since 1979, caused by global warming . Seeing a bleached reef for the triggered by unusually high sea first time is a ghostly experience. A seemingly healthy vibrant surface temperatures . No serious and colourful reef can go to a bleached wasteland within a bleaching events known prior to 1979 week or two .”

• Predictions of a phase switch to algal • “Everyone comes here because it’s nature tourism… to

dominance on the Great Barrier Reef John Rumney runs an adventure diving connect with nature… if we don’t have a healthy environment in 2030 to 2050 (after bleaching, algae business in Port Douglas, Queensland. to show these people they will become removed from the quickly colonise dead corals, possibly natural word they depend on, and end up going to inhibiting later coral recruitment) “I have lost about 10% of Disneyland.”

my dive sites to Crown of • “Overtime I started noticing that my idea of the Great Barrier Thorns starfish and Reef as a pristine wonderland didn’t match with what I was

bleaching in the past 4 observing. Once I started to notice there were less and less fish then I changed my life more and more .” Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, years […] what will we show working group II [11.2.3 & Box 4.4] the guests?” 1 panda.org/coral/bleaching

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/rumney • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, Manager

The pastoral quietness and lush landscapes of Prince Edward Island, eastern Canada, belie some climatic shifts that are beginning to affect sources of income for a local What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• North American animals are • "In recent years I have noticed a dramatic rise in responding to climate change, with temperatures, a decrease of winter snow and ice, and how effects on phenology, migration, these changes have been affecting the migration patterns of reproduction, dormancy and Canadian geese in this region." geographic range • "We used to get snow by 1 November, but now we’re lucky to get • Annual mean air temperature, on snow by Christmas." the whole, increased in North Corey Marchbank, 35, lives in Miscouche, America for the period 1955 to Prince Edward Island, Canada. He works • "With the increase in fall temperatures, Canadian geese are 2005 ... with modest warming in as a goose hunting guide. migrating south much later in the year. [...] With the hot sunny eastern Canada days we’ve been having, the geese tend stay out on the water “...when I was a kid, you’d go and don’t come inland at all. It’s a big change [...] If the hunting outside and the snow would be remains poor for another year or two my clients from the US up to the level of the power lines and other Canadian provinces will probably stop coming."

[…]. I haven’t seen that in a long time. ” Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [14.2.2, 14.2] 0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/marchbank • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, Manager

Climate Witness Programme, WWF- WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to International, Tel: +61 2 4381 1873, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]

In the farthest northeast reaches of Russia lies the Chukchi Peninsula, jutting out into the Siberian Sea. Here, people, polar bears and walruses are all feeling the sting of climate change What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• A recent major ecosystem shift in the • "In my lifetime I have noticed significant changes in the cycle of northern Bering Sea has been freezing and thawing. The ice-forming period now lasts for attributed to regional climate warming about a month, which is longer that before. The ice now and trends in the Arctic Oscillation breaks up a month earlier than before. "

• Comparing the horizon of 2010-2015 • "My friend Tilmyet, who is 82, says that the walrus are tired and with the control period 1950-1979 show have nowhere to rest because there is no more ice in summer." that ice cover duration on the rivers in Vladilen Ivanovich Kavry lives in the Siberia would be shorter by 15-27 days Chukotka region, at the far eastern edge • "We are pretty sure more bears are here because of and maximum ice cover would be thinner of Russia. For generations his people climate change. The bears depend on sea ice to get to by 20-40% have hunted marine mammals and their prey, mostly seals and without sea ice their hunting herded reindeer as a living. ground is shrinking."

• Polar bears will face a high risk of extinction with warming of 2.8°C above “Many people in my village • "The polar bears cause problems because they come looking pre-industrial experienced sea ice melting that for food in the village and often attack the sled dogs. It was not used to last all summer - there unusual for ten to visit the village in one day when foraging. We Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, is no more permanent sea ice need to scare them away." working group II [1.3.4.2, 3.4 & Box 4.3] left here. ”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; Testimonial: • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/kavry • Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Alexey Kokorin, Climate WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Change Programme Coordinator, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. WWF Russia, Moscow Tel: +7 495 727 09 39, [email protected]

In Chamonix, a little town at the foot of the Mont Blanc, this witness is observing climatic changes that are permanently altering the landscape What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• In the Massifs de Chartreuse, col de • “Ten years since I arrived in Chamonix, the weather has Porte of the French Prealps a 50% changed dramatically. November 2006 was warm and decrease of December 1st to April sunny, and so was December. ” 30th snow depth at 1320 m elevation has been observed (1960-2005) • “In March 2007, usually the best month for skiing, it was very rainy and the snowline never fell below 1800m, with • The Alps could be one of the regions wet snow above 2000m. April 2007 has been very hot, most affected by increase in year-to- almost summery, and the slopes closed down well in advance year variability in summer climates Andrea Fabellini, 35, lives in Chamonix of the usual end of the skiing season, with the worst snow and thus a higher incidence of heat Mont Blanc, France and shares his life layer I ever experienced.” waves and droughts between work at the Binational Police Service of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, and • “I have seen trees in bloom well in advance of the usual • Overall trends are towards increased snowboarding and film-making. time, at the end of February.” growing season... and shifts of species distributions towards higher elevations “... animals are waking up from hibernation too early in the Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [1.3.1.1, 12.3.1.2, 12.4.3] season and risk their life.”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/fabellini • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, Manager

WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Witness Programme, WWF-International, Tel: +61 2 4381 1873 , address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]

For centuries, the Sami people have been herding reindeer in an area spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Extreme weather resulting from climate change is now putting this lifestyle at risk

What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• In several northern hemisphere • “The number of storms and the amount of precipitation is mountain systems, treelines have increasing. The snow gets icy from the rain so that the markedly shifted to higher reindeer cannot get through down to the food, the lichens, elevations during the 20th century which they depend on to survive in the winter. ” such as in the Scandes • “The tree line climbs higher year by year. I believe the • Species ranges of alpine plants also forests increase more year by year, and the forest down here have extended to higher altitudes in gets thicker and thicker. ”

the Norwegian Scandes Olav Mathis Eira's family has been herding reindeer in northern Norway since the • “Since the start of the 1990’s, reindeer owners have pretty 1400s. much agreed that what we see now is completely unnatural. There are no long periods of frost anymore. “One of [my sons] will hopefully This also makes the big migration of the reindeers in spring

keep the family tradition of more difficult. The number of losses during this period are increasing. ” reindeer herding. But it is no Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, longer a good life. It is an working group II [ [1.3.5.2 & 1.3.5.2] insecure future. ”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; Testimonial: • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/eira • Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Miriam Geitz WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate Change Officer, WWF Arctic address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Programme, Oslo, Norway Tel: +47 22 03 65 00, [email protected]

Up in the cool highlands of west Kenya, Kericho district is the centre of the country’s large tea industry. Here, changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are straining already difficult livelihoods What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Human health, already compromised • “...one of the effects of the higher temperatures is the by a range of factors, could be increased number of mosquitoes resulting in increased further negatively impacted by incidence of malaria in this district.” climate change and climate variability, e.g. malaria in southern • “Temperatures have increased in the last decades, even Africa and the East African highlands during the rainy seasons — a strange scenario in Kericho (high confidence) District indeed. Unlike 20 years ago, the dry season at present is hotter to the extent that all the grass dries up. This means that • Observed temperatures have Nelly Damaris Chepkoskei, 51, is a there isn’t enough fodder for my cows , leading to a drop in indicated a greater warming trend farmer living in the Kericho District in milk production and also income. The soils are also left bare since the 1960s the west of Kenya. She has 5 children. during the dry season leading to erosion at the onset of the rains. ” “Now, people are even dying from malaria, something that • “...rainfall patterns have changed drastically in the last was virtually unheard of decades. Here in the Kericho District, we used to have rainfall Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, throughout the year. ” working group II [9.2.1.2; 9.4.3; 9.5.1 & 20-30 years ago. ” 9.2.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more

Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/chepkoskei • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. • Contact WWF: Kimunya Mugo,

Communications Manager, WWF WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Eastern Africa Regional Programme address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Office, Nairobi, Tel: +254 20 3877355, [email protected] For more information: Chief Scientist, WWF International Climate Change Programme, Email: [email protected]

Download B-Roll and high-resolution photos: http://tinyurl.com/2qwso9 www.panda.org/climatewitness Climate Witness: Adrian Brunner, Switzerland

The Swiss Alps conjure images of white peaks, abundant snow and year-round skiing. According to Adrian Brunner, this may be something of the past What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• The duration of snow cover is • “I have experienced [climate change] first hand - winters expected to decrease by several begin later, and are milder and dryer, while early snow in the weeks for each degree of temperature fall is often missing and rockslides are more frequent. My increase in the Alps region at middle experience is that heavy snowfall doesn’t arrive until March, April elevations. Small glaciers will or even May. ” disappear , while larger glaciers will suffer a volume reduction between 30% • “My shop generates about 75% of revenue during the winter

and 70% by 2050 An avid snowboarder and cyclist, season, one-third alone over Christmas and New Year’s in Adrian Brunner, 30, works in a December and January. This period is crucial for my business. • Increased rockfall after the 2003 snowboard and mountain bike shop in However, today’s winter is full of surprises, everything is summer heat wave Andermatt, a ski-resort town. messed up.”

“...my shop won’t be able to • “When the hills remain green around Christmas time

cope economically with the visitors don’t come to Andermatt for their holidays. Because of that I lose most of my annual turnover.” predicted climate change. ” Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [12.4.3 & 1.3.1.2]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/brunner • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Patrick Hofstetter, WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Climate campaigner, WWF Switzerland, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. Zurich, Tel: +41 44 297 22 77, [email protected]

The San Juan Islands are an idyllic archipelago nestled in northwest US, along the Canadian border. But for some locals, unpredictable climatic patterns are disrupting farming practices What the se WWF Climate Wi tness What the IPCC says are experiencing right now

• Droughts due to dry and • "During the past 3 years, we have had 2 years of drought unusually warm summers related followed by the second wettest fall on record . This was to warming of western tropical then followed by a very wet winter, an unusual and Pacific and Indian Oceans in damaging snow storm, the wettest spring on record, recent years (1998-2004) in and then a killing frost on March 28th of this year Western United States (2007)"

• In the West, lilac, honeysuckle • "Thirty years ago we hoped that the lilacs would be flowering 1.5-3.5 days/ decade Steve and Linnea Bensel have been farming in blooming for Linnea's birthday on May 3th. Now we hope the San Juan Islands for over 30 years. Their earlier (1957-1994) farm, a small-scale but intensive operation, is that there will still be a few flowers left by the time her their sole source of income. birthday arrives."

“These [recent weather] patterns • "If indeed the weather is going to be increasingly unpredictable, it will be very difficult for us to know are different than those we what will be required in the future to remain witnessed during the past 3 successful farmers ." Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report,

working group II [1.3.2.1 & 14.2.1; decades or more...” 1.3.5.1]

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and panda.org/climatewitness/bensel

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Claire Carlton, WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Manager Climate Witness Programme, address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. WWF-International, Tel: +61 2 4381 1873 [email protected]

Agriculture underpins the fragile economy of the Castilla La-Mancha region in central Spain. Now climate change is making life even harder for local farmers What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• The southern Iberian Peninsula could be • "[In 2005] It hasn’t rained all spring and summer, and one of the regions most affected by because of the lack of water we have lost 100% of our increase in year-to-year variability in leguminous and cereal harvest." summer climates and thus a higher incidence of heat waves and • "Over the last few years the seasonal cycle has changed: we go droughts . Mediterranean droughts from summer to winter and from winter to summer. Spring would start earlier in the year and last and autumn seem to have disappeared completely, and these longer. José Luis Oliveros Zafra, 48, is a farmer changes have occurred so suddenly, that they are affecting our living in Villanuevo del Alcarduete, a farming cycles seriously." • By 2070s, a 100 year drought of today’s town in the region of Castilla La-Mancha magnitude would return, on average, in Spain. • "It seems that the weather has gone crazy: summer and

more frequently than every 10 years in winter get mixed up when you have snow in May and

parts of Spain (and Portugal, western extreme heat in February like this year. That’s just not France, the Vistula Basin in Poland, and “We can’t adjust the farming normal." western Turkey). cycle to all these unexpected frosts that occur Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, working group II [12.3.1.2. & 3.4 ] at the most unusual dates... ”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/zafra • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Mar Asunción Higueras

WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to Head of Climate Programme, WWF-Spain, Madrid, Tel: +3491 354 0578 , address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]

Kiribati is a string of atoll nations straddling the Equator in the Pacific. As sea levels rise, life is increasingly harder for islanders What this WWF Climate Witness What the IPCC says is experiencing right now

• Sea level rise and increased seawater • “As the sea levels continue to rise in Kiribati, several king temperature are projected to tides hit the island. Serious storm surges cause coastal accelerate beach erosion, and cause erosion, floods grave yards, and in 2006, led to the collapse degradation of natural coastal of the beautiful Dai Nippon causeway. This incident bore huge defences such as mangroves and costs on the people of Kiribati. They had to build new homes coral reefs with their own finance, and dig up their deceased relatives from their graves and bury them further inland.” • Coastal vegetated wetlands are Ben Namakin lives in the Federated sensitive to climate change and long- States of Micronesia where he works as • “Pandanus trees mean a lot to us; they are used for house term sea-level change. Losses would an environmental educator for the construction, local medicine, food, traditional clothing, etc., but be severe on most small island regions Conservation Society of Pohnpei. are dying from saltwater intrusion.” due to their low tidal range “[People] had to build new • “Saltwater intrusion affects the quality of water in wells, homes [...], and dig up their floods taro patches, gardens, and puts stress on plants/trees deceased relatives from which are very important to the life and culture of an I-Kiribati.” Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, their graves and bury them working group II [16.4.6 & 6.4.1.4] further inland.”

0To limit the impacts of climate change highlighted by the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report... Find out more Testimonial: • Industrialized countries must cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020; panda.org/climatewitness/namakin • Big developing economies should agree to join hands with rich countries to develop their own climate solutions; and

• Deforestation must be stopped, by making forest protection a business proposition. Contact WWF: Diane McFadzien, WWF

International Policy Initiative Coordinator WWF works with governments and communities around the world to develop region-specific adaptation strategies to - Asia pacific, Fiji, Tel: +679 331 5533 address climate change impacts — such as those impacts being observed by our Climate Witnesses here and now. [email protected]