Beijing

Beijing is China’s capital and, with its huge multilane highways, is a major transportation hub. But the desert is encroaching on this metropolis. Beijing is plagued by sandstorms howling in from Inner Mongolia—one storm dumped almost 364,000 tons of sand and dirt on the city in 2005. Rising temperatures combined with less predictable rain patterns are likely to reduce water supplies and augment desertification.

Lake Baikal, Russia

Lake Baikal in southern Siberia is the world’s oldest and deepest lake, containing more water than all of North America’s Great Lakes combined. The lake’s biodiversity has adapted to cold, long winters, but its waters have been warming over the last several decades. If temperatures continue to rise as projected, the entire ecosystem could suffer.

Me Kong Delta, Vietnam

A lush area of vast plantations and one of Vietnam’s largest rice-, vegetable-, and fruit-producing regions, the delta is threatened by upstream dams and pollution. The projected rise in sea level could increase saltwater intrusion into freshwater ponds and rice fields. It could also cause flooding, leading to a loss of cropland and mangroves.

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