摘要
Climate change is proceeding at an unprecedented pace with global temperatures and sea-levels setting new records almost every year （IPCC, 2007）. While these changes are worrisome due to effects on all biological systems and hence also on humans, even more problematic changes may be in the waiting, because not only is the climate changing, but it is also becoming more extreme. Extreme temperatures, rainfall, droughts, storms and fires are already becoming more common with severe consequences for humans, their crops and domestic animals and all wild organisms. For example, the severe heat wave in 2003 caused an excess mortality of 2,600 humans in France alone （INSERM, 2003）, and primary production was suppressed across Europe （Ciais et al. 2004）.
