i)Healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity are fundamental to life on our planet.

ii)Climate change is affecting the habitats of several species, which must either adapt or migrate to areas with more favourable conditions.

iii)Even small changes in average temperatures can have a significant effect upon ecosystems.

iv) The inter-connected nature of ecosystems means that the loss of species can have knock-on effects upon a range of ecosystem functions.

climate change:
           The world is heating up. The increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂, in the Earth’s atmosphere are causing the planet’s climate system to retain more energy.  The average temperature of the Earth's surface increased by an estimated 0.7°C since the beginning of the 20^th century and, according to the most recent projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  , could rise by 1.6–4.3°C  compared to a 1850–1900  baseline by 2100.

The effects of increased CO₂ in the atmosphere and changing climatic conditions are expected to include:

* more frequent extreme high maximum temperatures and less frequent extreme low minimum temperatures, and warmer winter conditions

* decreased snow cover: satellite observations suggest that the area of the planet  covered by snow has already declined by 10 per cent since the 1960s
 
* increased climate variability, with changes in both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events 

* increase in sea level

* ocean acdification