Scientists, economists and policy makers all agree that the world faces the threat of global warming. Global warming is caused by an excess of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which trap heat. Human use of fossil fuels is a significant source of these gases. When we drive our cars, heat our homes with oil or natural gas, or use electricity from coal-fired power plants, we contribute to global warming. Including any loss of trees or forests also helps, since trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Global warming will have a global effect, but the problem is expected to be most severe in Africa, where the population is poor, temperatures are high, precipitation is low, technological progress is slow and agriculture is the engine of economy. Climate change in Africa will ultimately affect their habitats, native and non-native species, agriculture, weather, health and energy consumption. First, across Africa the landscape is changing, the snow caps of Mount Kilimanjaro are melting and the shores of Lake Chad are receding. Lake Chad, once immense, has almost disappeared; its size today is twice as small as it was thirty-five years ago (Offor, 2008). The city of Burundi sits on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, which is still a large body of water, but the coastline has receded 15 meters in the last 4 years and ships can no longer reach the port. Lake Victoria, the largest of Africa's great lakes, has been sinking at a vertical centimeter per day for much of last year. The retreat of these lakes along with a change in water temperature will now deplete fish stocks. As fish sources decline, this limits the amount of fish caught and sold by fishermen. When the usual food source is limited, Africans may turn to hunting...... middle of article...... Final climate and environment research: www.cicero.vio. noJuma, C. (2009, September 15). Climate change in Africa. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from the World Bank blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org Kristof, ND (June 28, 2007). Our gas consumers, their lives. New York, New York, USA: The New York Times. Mendelsohn, R. (July 12, 2000). Impacts of climate change on African agriculture. Retrieved December 4, 2009 from www.ceepa.co.29Offor, C. (April 21, 2008). Effects of climate change on Africa. Retrieved December 2, 2009 from www.voa.news.comSchlesinger, ME (2007). Chapter 14: The impacts of climate change on Africa. In S.e. al, Human-induced climate change: an interdisciplinary assessment. Cambridge University Press. Vallely, P. (May 16, 2006). Climate change will be a catastrophe for Africa. Retrieved December 8, 2009 from www.independent.co.uk/environment