It appears increasingly likely that climate change will have a major impact on social, economic
and environmental systems during the course of this century. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change currently predict rises in sea level of 9 to 48cm by 2080 in the ‘low emissions
scenario', rising to 16cm to 69cm in the 'high emissions scenario'. It is also likely that there will
be changes in rainfall patterns, and in the frequency of severe weather conditions.