For example, rising sea levels due to melting polar ice caps could displace millions of people around the world who live near coasts and islands; changing weather patterns have already been observed leading to harsher droughts in some regions and flooding in others; ocean acidification may lead to reduced biodiversity among marine life – all serious consequences related directly or indirectly with global warming fueled by human activities releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at alarming rates since industrialization began two centuries ago .