The observed and predicted warming of the climate may influence the natural environment, economy and standard of living. Studies of the influence of climatic changes on agriculture demonstrate both advantageous and disadvantageous consequences. Among the advantageous changes are: an increase of crop yields, an increase of the acreage of corn, soya bean and sunflower crops, widening of pastures, and an increase of the green mass yield from arable land. The warming of the climate may also bring forth an increase of occurrences of diseases and crop pests as well as an increase of the water needs of farm land.

A gradual rise of air temperatures during the last decades has contributed to an improvement of the environment for species of thermophilous trees in Polish forests. An experimental forest nursery in Rogowo may serve as an example. During the last forty years in this nursery the surface occupied by pine trees has gone down from 93% to 59%, while oak trees increased their share from 6% to 38%. Similarly as in the case of agriculture, both positive and negative consequences stem from these changes. Further warming of the climate may decrease the area covered by forests in favour of a spread of steppe plant formations.

The warming of the climate will cause plant and animal zones to shift north. It is predicted that some species will not be able to adapt to new conditions in time, and they will become extinct. Only the ones that have a wide margin of tolerance to habitat conditions will survive. Diversified reaction of species to the changes in the climate will result in the formation of new combinations of species in the biocenosis. These new combinations will be adapted to the altered climatic conditions.

The changes in the heat balance of the Earth will cause an intensification of water circulation. Scientists predict an increase of evaporation and outflow of water, a lowering of the amount of water stored in soil, and intensification of soil erosion. Another consequence of the warming of the climate will be a rise of the level of the Baltic Sea, which will increase the risk of storm floods, cause flooding of coastal lowlands or their swamping, and intensive erosion of cliff seacoast. This will also endanger the infrastructure, settlements, agriculture, industry and ecosystems in low-laying coastal areas. From the above analysis two more general conclusions can be drawn: the climate conditions are undergoing discernible changes and this fact should be reflected in economic decisions. In general, climatic changes will be detrimental to Poland, so actions to adapt to them should be undertaken as soon as possible.

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