Introduction

Our planet’s climate has changed appreciably since the beginning of the industrial age. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have risen significantly. Surface temperatures over much of the Northern Hemisphere increased by more than 1°C between 1901 and 2012, and by more than 2°C in large parts of Canada and the Russian Federation (IPCC, 2014). Boreal forests have experienced the largest temperature increases, in comparison to other forest biomes (Gauthier et al., 2015). These warming trends are projected to continue, though the size of the increase will vary according to which projected emission pathway, also called Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP), is followed. Under the low emission pathway RCP2.6, average land surface temperatures by 2081-2100, would be 2°C-3°C higher almost everywhere in the UNECE region, compared with 1986-2005 levels.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Responsible Consumption and Production

Climate Action

Life on Land