Only a minority of observers continue to dispute the reality of climate change. Overwhelming evidence points to the conclusion that human activity has and will continue to have a significant effect on our planet's complex systems. The long-term results of these changes remain to be seen, but many scientists warn they could be very serious indeed for both humans and the Earth itself.

In a new video produced by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and Globaia and funded by the UN Foundation, the filmmakers clearly explore and explain the predicted outcomes if emissions continue at their current rates. You've undoubtedly heard we can expect melting ice, rising sea levels and more extreme local climates. But what is the likelihood of these changes occurring, and what kind of scale can we expect? More importantly, can we do anything about it? These questions are explored in the video below.

Talking to Gizmodo, the video's co-producer Owen Gaffney explains, "We wanted to find a way of communicating climate risks in a way that showed exactly what climate scientists meant when they say likely or unlikely. While the terminology can sound a little vague, it is more precise than most people realize".